Sole structures including polyolefin plates and articles of footwear formed therefrom

ABSTRACT

A variety of plates for footwear are provided including a polyolefin resin. Sole structures and articles of footwear formed therefrom are also provided. Methods of making the polyolefin resin compositions, plates, sole structures, and articles of footwear are also provided. In some aspects, the polyolefin resin composition includes an effective amount of a polymeric resin modifier. The effective amount can be an amount effective to allow the resin composition to pass a flex test, and in particular to pass a flex test without significant change in abrasion loss. In some aspects, the resin composition also includes a clarifying agent to improve optical clarity of the plate. In some aspects, the plates include a textile disposed on one or both of a first side and the second side of the plate. The textile can provide for improved bonding of the plate to other components such as a chassis or an upper.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to, and the benefit of, co-pending U.S.provisional application entitled “PLATES AND OTHER COMPONENTS INCLUDINGPOLYOLEFIN RESINS AND ARTICLES OF FOOTWEAR FORMED THEREFROM” having Ser.No. 62/621,202, filed Jan. 24, 2018; co-pending U.S. provisionalapplication entitled “SOLE STRUCTURES INCLUDING POLYOLEFIN PLATES ANDARTICLES OF FOOTWEAR FORMED THEREFROM” having Ser. No. 62/657,580, filedApr. 13, 2018; and co-pending U.S. provisional application entitled“SOLE STRUCTURES INCLUDING POLYOLEFIN PLATES AND ARTICLES OF FOOTWEARFORMED THEREFROM” having Ser. No. 62/671,866, filed May 15, 2018; thecontents of which are all incorporated by reference in their entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to sole structures and platesincluding polyolefin resins and articles of footwear including said solestructures.

BACKGROUND

The design and manufacture of footwear and sporting equipment involves avariety of factors from the aesthetic aspects, to the comfort and feel,to the performance and durability. While design and fashion may berapidly changing, the demand for increasing performance in the footwearand sporting equipment market is unchanging. In addition, the market hasshifted to demand lower-cost and recyclable materials still capable ofmeeting increasing performance demands. To balance these demands,designers of footwear and sporting equipment employ a variety ofmaterials and designs for the various components.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further aspects of the present disclosure will be readily appreciatedupon review of the detailed description, described below, when taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings.

FIGS. 1A-1H depict an exemplary article of athletic footwear. FIG. 1A isa lateral side perspective view of the exemplary article of athleticfootwear. FIG. 1B is a lateral side elevational view of the exemplaryarticle of athletic footwear. FIG. 1C is a medial side elevational viewof the exemplary article of athletic footwear. FIG. 1D is a top view ofthe exemplary article of athletic footwear. FIG. 1E is a front view ofthe exemplary article of athletic footwear. FIG. 1F is a rear view ofthe exemplary article of athletic footwear. FIG. 1G is an explodedperspective view of the exemplary article of athletic footwear. FIG. 1His a sectional view along 1-1 of the exemplary article of athleticfootwear.

FIGS. 2A-2C depict a second exemplary article of athletic footwear. FIG.2A is a lateral side elevational view of the exemplary article ofathletic footwear. FIG. 2B is an exploded perspective view of the secondexemplary article of athletic footwear. FIG. 2C is a sectional viewalong 2-2 of the second exemplary article of athletic footwear.

FIG. 3 depicts an exploded view of a third exemplary sole structurehaving a chassis and a rigid plate providing rigidity without addingsubstantial amounts of extra material, and therefore maintaining a lowweight.

FIGS. 4A-4C depict a fourth exemplary article of athletic footwear. FIG.4A is a lateral side elevational view of the exemplary article ofathletic footwear. FIG. 4B is an exploded perspective view of the secondexemplary article of athletic footwear. FIG. 4C is a sectional viewalong 4-4 of the second exemplary article of athletic footwear.

FIGS. 5A-5B depict a fifth exemplary article of athletic footwear. FIG.5A is a lateral side elevational view of the fifth exemplary article ofathletic footwear. FIG. 5B is an exploded perspective view of the fifthexemplary article of athletic footwear

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

State of the art specialty polymers for footwear and sporting equipmentinclude polymers such as polyurethane and polyamide polymers, but thereremains a need for lower-cost alternatives to these performancepolymers, especially lower-cost alternatives that are recyclable andreadily processable. Alternatives such as polyolefins, whilecost-effective, have traditionally suffered from poor mechanicalproperties and poor surfaces and surface energies for bonding. Newdesigns and materials are needed. In particular, there remains a needfor improved polymer resins for making components of footwear andsporting equipment which are resistant to stress whitening or crackingwhen flexed under cold conditions, resistant to abrasion, and that arecapable of adequate bonding for footwear and other athletic equipmentapplications.

In various aspects, this disclosure provides sole structures including aplate containing a polyolefin resin. In some aspects, the solestructures include the plate and a textile on one or more surfaces ofthe plate. The textile can improve the bonding of other components (e.g.an upper or a chassis) to the plate. The textile can also be used fordecorative purposes. Plates having the polyolefin resin compositions canhave improved mechanical properties making them particularly suitablefor use in components for footwear and sporting equipment. Specifically,these resin compositions are both resistant to stress whitening orcracking when flexed under cold conditions and resistant to abrasion tothe levels needed for use in footwear and sporting equipment. Thepresent disclosure provides a variety of plates for articles of footwearwhich include these polyolefin resin compositions.

In some aspects, this disclosure provides a sole structure for anarticle of footwear, the sole structure having a plate containing apolyolefin resin, the plate having a first side and a second side,wherein the first side is configured to be ground-facing when the plateis a component of an article of footwear; and a textile disposed on oneor both of the first side and the second side. In some aspects, the solestructure further includes a chassis configured to be on the first sideof the plate. The chassis can wrap around the plate and engage or beattached to an upper when the sole structure is a component of anarticle of footwear, for example the chassis can attach to the upper atthe bite line. In some aspects, the sole structures do not include atextile, e.g. the sole structure can include the plate and a chassis asdescribed above and detailed more fully below.

In various aspects, this disclosure also provides articles of footwearincluding a sole structure described herein.

Before the present disclosure is described in greater detail, it is tobe understood that this disclosure is not limited to particular aspectsdescribed, and as such may, of course, vary. Other systems, methods,features, and advantages of resin compositions and articles andcomponents thereof will be or become apparent to one with skill in theart upon examination of the following drawings and detailed description.It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features, andadvantages be included within this description, be within the scope ofthe present disclosure, and be protected by the accompanying claims. Itis also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for thepurpose of describing particular aspects only, and is not intended to belimiting. The skilled artisan will recognize many variants andadaptations of the aspects described herein. These variants andadaptations are intended to be included in the teachings of thisdisclosure and to be encompassed by the claims herein.

Sole Structures and Articles of Footwear Made Therefrom

In some aspects, the present disclosure is directed to sole structuresincluding a plate containing a polyolefin resin. The present disclosurealso provides articles of footwear including the sole structures. Asdiscussed below, the plates containing the polyolefin resin compositionsdesirably exhibit high levels of mechanical strength and yet flexuraldurability. However, applicants have found that in some aspects, whenpolyolefin resin compositions are used in the plates, bonding to asurface of the plate (e.g. bonding between the plate and the upper) maybe unsatisfactory. Therefore, in some aspects, the sole structuresinclude the plate and a textile disposed on one or more surfaces of theplate. Not wishing to be bound by any particular theory, it is believedthat including the textile disposed on one or more surfaces of the platecan lead to improved bonding between the plate and the upper,particularly when the upper is formed of a different polymeric resinthan the plate. In one example, using a textile comprising fibers oryarns formed of a polymeric material having a different surface energyas compared to the surface energy of the polyolefin resin of the platemay facilitate bonding between an upper which comprises a polymericmaterial having a surface energy which is closer to the surface energyof the textile than to the surface energy of the polyolefin resin of theplate, thereby increasing the strength of a bond between the plate andthe upper as compared to using a plate without the textile. Using atextile can provide a textured surface having a greater surface area,providing greater opportunity to form mechanical bonds between the upperand the plate, thereby increasing the strength of a bond between theplate and the upper as compared to using a plate without the textile. Asan additional benefit, the textile can be used to provide a decorativeor stylistic surface in some aspects.

FIG. 1A is a lateral side perspective view of an exemplary cleatedarticle of athletic footwear 110, for example a soccer/futbol boot. Asseen in FIG. 1A, the article of footwear 110 includes an upper 112 and asole structure 113, which includes a plate 116 and a textile 114disposed on the upper side 152 of the plate. The textile 114 is locatedbetween the plate 116 and the upper 112. The plate 116 includes multipletraction elements 118. When worn, traction elements 118 provide tractionto a wearer so as to enhance stability. One or more of the tractionelements 118 can be integrally formed with the plate, as illustrated inFIG. 1A, or can be removable. Optionally, one or more of the tractionelements 118 can include a traction element tip (not pictured)configured to be ground-contacting. The traction element tip can beintegrally formed with the traction element 118. Optionally, thetraction element tip can be formed of a different material (e.g., ametal, or a polymeric material containing different polymers) than therest of the traction element 118. FIG. 1B is a lateral side elevationalview of article of footwear 110. When the article of footwear 110 isworn, the lateral side of the article 110 is generally oriented on theside facing away from the centerline of the wearer's body. FIG. 1C is amedial side elevational view of the article of footwear 110. When thearticle of footwear 110 is worn, the medial side generally faces towardthe centerline of the wearer's body. FIG. 1D is a top view of thearticle of footwear 110 (with no sock liner in place) and without alasting board or other board-like member 115, and further shows upper112. Upper 112 includes a padded collar 120. Alternatively or inaddition, the upper can include a region configured to extend up to orover a wearer's ankle (not illustrated). In at least one aspect, upper112 is tongueless, with the upper wrapping from the medial side of thewearer's foot, over the top of the foot, and under the lateral sideportion of the upper, as illustrated in FIG. 1D. Alternatively, thearticle of footwear can include a tongue (not illustrated). Asillustrated in FIG. 1A-1G, the laces of the article of footwear 110optionally can be located on the lateral side of the article. In otherexamples, the article of footwear may have a slip-on design or mayinclude a closure system other than laces (not illustrated). FIG. 1E andFIG. 1F are, respectively, front and rear elevational views of thearticle of footwear 110.

FIG. 1G is an exploded perspective view of the article of footwear 110showing upper 112, plate 116, and textile 114. As seen in FIG. 1D, upper112 includes a strobel 138. As illustrated in FIG. 1D, the strobel 138is roughly the shape of a wearer's foot, and closes the bottom of theupper 112, and is stitched to other components to form the upper 112along the periphery of the strobel 138 with stitching 185. A lastingboard or other board-like member 115 can be located above or below thestrobel 138. In some aspects, a lasting board or other board-like membercan replace the strobel. The lasting board or other board-like member115 can extend substantially the entire length of the plate, or can bepresent in a portion of the length of the plate, such as, for example,in the toe region 130, or in the midfoot region, or in the heel region.Upper 112 including strobel 138 is bonded to the upper surface 140 ofthe textile 114 (FIGS. 1G-1H). The lower surface 142 of the textile 114can be bonded or melded to the upper surface 152 of the plate 116. Insome aspects, the lower surface 142 of the textile 114 can bemechanically bonded to the upper surface 152 of the plate 116 by meldingpolymers in the textile 114 and the polymeric resin of the plate 116.Alternatively or in addition, upper 112 including strobel 138 aremechanically bonded to the upper surface 140 of the textile 114 bymelding the polymeric resin of the upper 112 or strobel 138 with thepolymeric resin of the plate 116. In some aspects, the bonding caninclude both adhesive bonding and mechanical bonding.

In at least one aspect, plate 116 and textile 114 are first bondedbefore upper 112 and/or strobel 138 is bonded to textile 114. In someaspects, the article of footwear 110 can include a removable sock liner(not pictured). As is known in the art, a sock liner conforms to andlines the inner bottom surface of a shoe and is the component contactedby the sole (or socked sole) of a wearer's foot.

FIGS. 2A-2C depict a second exemplary article of athletic footwear. FIG.2A is a lateral side elevational view of the exemplary article ofathletic footwear. FIG. 2B is an exploded perspective view of the secondexemplary article of athletic footwear. FIG. 2C is a sectional viewalong 2-2 of the second exemplary article of athletic footwear. FIG. 2Ais a lateral side elevational view of an exemplary article of footwear210 that does not have a textile. The article of footwear 210 includesan upper 212 and a sole structure 213 having a plate 216 and a chassis217. The chassis 217 includes multiple traction elements 218. Thetraction elements 218 can be formed entirely from the chassis 217material or, as pictured in FIG. 2B, the traction elements 118 can havea corresponding inner traction element 219 that is formed in the plate216 and encased by the chassis 217. Optionally, one or more of thetraction elements 218 can include a traction element tip (not pictured)configured to be ground-contacting. The article of footwear 210 caninclude a lasting board member 215 which can extend substantially theentire length of the plate 216.

In some aspects, the sole structure may include a plate to providerigidity, strength, and/or support without substantially adding weight.For example, some exemplary sole structure aspects may include a platehaving certain features that provide resistance to vertical bending,lateral bending, and/or torsion. As depicted in FIG. 3, the plate 300can include a reinforcing rib 310 longitudinally along the plate. Thereinforcing rib can include a hollow structure, and thus, may providerigidity without adding substantial amounts of extra material, andtherefore maintains a low weight. The plate 300 can sit within a chassis330, for example with a recess 320 in the chassis 330.

In some aspects, when the sole structure includes a plate and a chassisconfigured to wrap around the plate and to engage or be attached to anupper when the sole structure is a component of an article of footwear,the sole structure also includes one or more textiles. For example, atextile can be between the plate and the upper and can provide forimproved bonding between the plate and the upper. A textile can also bepositioned between the plate and the chassis. In aspects where thetextile is between the plate and the chassis, the textile can providefor improved adhesion between the plate and the chassis and/or thetextile can be a decorative or ornamental textile. In some aspects, thesole structure can include a decorative textile on the exterior orground facing surface of the chassis. For example, as depicted in FIGS.4A-4C, the article of footwear 410 includes an upper 412 and a solestructure 413 having a plate 416 and a chassis 417. The chassis 417includes multiple traction elements 418. The traction elements 418 canbe formed entirely from the chassis 417 material as pictured.Optionally, one or more of the traction elements 418 can include atraction element tip (not pictured) configured to be ground-contacting.A textile 414 is positioned between the plate 416 and the chassis 417.The article of footwear 410 can include a lasting board member 415 whichcan extend substantially the entire length of the plate 416.

FIG. 5A is a lateral side elevational view of an exemplary article offootwear 510 including separate heel plate 515, midfoot plate 516, andtoe plate 517. The article of footwear 510 includes an upper 512 and aheel plate 515, midfoot plate 516, and toe plate 517. Each of the heelplate 515, midfoot plate 516, and toe plate 517 include multipletraction elements 518. When worn, traction elements 518 provide tractionto a wearer so as to enhance stability. One or more of the tractionelements 518 can be integrally formed with the heel plate 515, midfootplate 516, and/or toe plate 517, as illustrated in FIG. 5A, or can beremovable. FIG. 5B is an exploded perspective view of the article offootwear 510 showing upper 512, heel plate 515, midfoot plate 516, andtoe plate 517. In this aspect, the upper surface 525 of the heel plate515 can include a heel textile 535. The upper surface 527 of the toeplate 517 can include a toe textile 537. Likewise, the upper surface 526of the midfoot plate 516 includes a midfoot textile 536. The textilescan provide for improved bonding between upper 512, heel plate 515,midfoot plate 516, and toe plate 517.

This disclosure provides a variety of sole structures including apolyolefin plate, i.e. including a plate containing a polyolefin resincomposition. The plate includes a polyolefin resin composition, forexample any of the polyolefin resin compositions described herein. Thesole structures can also include an elastomeric material containing acured rubber and a hydrogel material, wherein in the elastomericmaterial, the hydrogel material is distributed throughout the curedrubber, and at least a portion of the hydrogel material present in theelastomeric material is physically entrapped by the cured rubber. Suchsystems are described in U.S. provisional patent application 62/574,262entitled “RUBBER COMPOSITIONS AND USES THEREOF” filed Oct. 19, 2017, thecontents of which are incorporated in their entirety as if fullydisclosed herein. The elastomeric materials can provide for anti-clogproperties.

The sole structures can include a textile on one or more surfaces of theplate. For instance, when the plate has a first side and a second side,the first side can be configured to be ground-facing when the plate is acomponent of an article of footwear and the second side can beconfigured to be upward facing. In some aspects, the textile is on oneor both of the first side and the second side. The textile can providefor improved bonding between the plate and other components of the solestructure, e.g. between the plate and a chassis. The textile can alsoprovide for improved bonding between the plate and the upper when thesole structure is a component of an article of footwear. In someaspects, the textile is a patterned or decorative textile.

In some aspects, the sole structures include a chassis. In some aspects,the chassis is in combination with one or more textiles in the solestructure, while in some aspects the sole structure includes a chassisand no textile. The chassis can be configured to be on the first side orground facing side of the plate. In some aspects, the chassis isconfigured to wrap around the plate and to engage or be attached to anupper when the sole structure is a component of an article of footwear.The chassis can attach to the upper at the bite line.

In some aspects, the traction elements are made from the same or nearlythe same polyolefin resin composition as the plate. In other aspects,the traction elements are made from a second resin that is differentfrom the polyolefin resin. In some aspects, the sole structure includesa chassis and the chassis is made from the second resin. The secondresin can include a polystyrene, a polyethylene, an ethylene-α-olefincopolymer, an ethylene-propylene rubber (EPDM), a polybutene, apolyisobutylene, a poly-4-methylpent-1-ene, a polyisoprene, apolybutadiene, a ethylene-methacrylic acid copolymer, an olefinelastomer, a copolymer thereof, or a blend or mixture thereof. In someaspects, the second resin includes about 20%, about 10%, or less of apolyolefin. The second resin can include about 20%, about 10%, or lessof polypropylene. The second resin can include an ethylene-propylenerubber (EPDM) dispersed in a polypropylene. The second resin can includea a block copolymer comprising a polystyrene block. The block copolymercomprises can be, for example. a copolymer of styrene and one or both ofethylene and butylene. In general, the second resin can be any resinthat is compatible with the polyolefin resin and that has theappropriate durability and mechanical properties.

In particular, the second resin (e.g. a polystyrene, a polyethylene, anethylene-α-olefin copolymer, an ethylene-propylene rubber (EPDM), apolybutene, a polyisobutylene, a poly-4-methylpent-1-ene, apolyisoprene, a polybutadiene, a ethylene-methacrylic acid copolymer, anolefin elastomer, a copolymer thereof, or a blend or mixture thereof)have been found to bond well to the resin compositions of the presentdisclosure.

Additionally, second resins containing an ethylene-propylene rubber(EPDM) dispersed in a polypropylene, or containing a block copolymerhaving a polystyrene block; and wherein the block copolymer includes acopolymer of styrene and one or both of ethylene and butylene, have beenfound to be particularly useful in ground-contacting portions oftraction elements, as these compositions both bond well to the resincompositions of the present disclosure, and can provide an even higherlevel of abrasion-resistance than the resin compositions of the presentdisclosure, which may be desired in the ground-contacting portions oftraction elements.

In some aspects, it can be beneficial to include a clarifying agent inthe plate (in the polyolefin resin) and/or, when a chassis is present,in the chassis. The clarifying agent can allow for clear visibility of atextile through the plate. The clarifying agent can be present in anysuitable amount to provide sufficient optical clarity of the final plateor sole structure. In some aspects, the clarifying agent is present inan amount from about 0.5% by weight to about 5% by weight or about 1.5%by weight to about 2.5% by weight based upon a total weight of thepolyolefin resin. The clarifying agent can include those selected fromthe group of substituted or unsubstituted dibenzylidene sorbitol,1,3-O-2,4-bis(3,4-dimethylbenzylidene) sorbitol,1,2,3-trideoxy-4,6:5,7-bis-O-[(4-propylphenyl)methylene], and aderivative thereof. The clarifying agent can include an acetal compoundthat is the condensation product of a polyhydric alcohol and an aromaticaldehyde. The polyhydric alcohol can include those selected from thegroup consisting of acyclic polyols such as xylitol and sorbitol andacyclic deoxy polyols such as 1,2,3-trideoxynonitol or1,2,3-trideoxynon-1-enitol. The aromatic aldehyde can include thoseselected from the group consisting of benzaldehyde and substitutedbenzaldehydes.

Resin Compositions

A variety of resin compositions are provided having the abrasionresistance and flexural durability suitable for use in the articles andcomponents described above. In some aspects, a resin composition isprovided including a polyolefin copolymer, and an effective amount of apolymeric resin modifier. The effective amount of the resin modifierprovides improved flexural durability while maintaining a suitableabrasion resistance. For example, in some aspects the effective amountof the polymeric resin modifier is an amount effective to allow theresin composition to pass a flex test pursuant to the Cold Ross FlexTest using the Plaque Sampling Procedure. At the same time, the resincomposition can still have a suitable abrasion loss when measuredpursuant to ASTM D 5963-97a using the Material Sampling Procedure. Insome aspects, the otherwise same resin composition except without thepolymeric resin modifier does not pass the cold Ross flex test using theMaterial Sampling Procedure.

The polymeric resin modifier can provide improved flexural strength,toughness, creep resistance, or flexural durability without asignificant loss in the abrasion resistance. In some aspects, a resincomposition is provided including a polyolefin copolymer, and aneffective amount of a polymeric resin modifier, wherein the effectiveamount of the polymeric resin modifier is an amount effective to allowthe resin composition to pass a flex test pursuant to the Cold Ross FlexTest using the Plaque Sampling Procedure without a significant change inan abrasion loss as compared to an abrasion loss of a second resincomposition identical to the resin composition except without thepolymeric resin modifier when measured pursuant to ASTM D 5963-97a usingthe Material Sampling Procedure. In other words, in some aspects, theeffective amount of the polymeric resin modifier is an amount which issufficient to produce a resin composition that does not stress whiten orcrack during 150,000 flex cycles of the Cold Ross Flex test, while theabrasion resistance of the resin composition has not been significantlydegraded and thus is not significantly different than the abrasionresistance of a comparator resin composition which is otherwiseidentical to the resin composition except that it is free of thepolymeric resin modifier.

In some aspects, the resin composition has an abrasion loss of about0.05 cubic centimeters (cm³) to about 0.1 cubic centimeters (cm³), about0.07 cubic centimeters (cm³) to about 0.1 cubic centimeters (cm³), about0.08 cubic centimeters (cm³) to about 0.1 cubic centimeters (cm³), orabout 0.08 cubic centimeters (cm³) to about 0.11 cubic centimeters (cm³)pursuant to ASTM D 5963-97a using the Material Sampling Procedure. Insome aspects, the resin composition has no significant change in theabrasion loss as compared to an abrasion loss of a second resincomposition identical to the resin composition except without thepolymeric resin modifier when measured pursuant to ASTM D 5963-97a usingthe Material Sampling Procedure. A change is abrasion loss, as usedherein, is said to not be significant when the change is about 30%,about 25%, about 20%, about 15%, about 10%, or less when measuredpursuant to ASTM D 5963-97a using the Material Sampling Procedure.

The resin compositions can include a variety of polyolefin copolymers.The copolymers can be alternating copolymers or random copolymers orblock copolymers or graft copolymers. In some aspects, the copolymersare random copolymers. In some aspects, the copolymer includes aplurality of repeat units, with each of the plurality of repeat unitsindividually derived from an alkene monomer having about 1 to about 6carbon atoms. In other aspects, the copolymer includes a plurality ofrepeat units, with each of the plurality of repeat units individuallyderived from a monomer selected from the group consisting of ethylene,propylene, 4-methyl-1-pentene, 1-butene, 1-octene, and a combinationthereof. In some aspects, the polyolefin copolymer includes a pluralityof repeat units each individually selected from Formula 1A-1D. In someaspects, the polyolefin copolymer includes a first plurality of repeatunits having a structure according to Formula 1A, and a second pluralityof repeat units having a structure selected from Formula 1B-1D.

In some aspects, the polyolefin copolymer includes a plurality of repeatunits each individually having a structure according to Formula 2

where R¹ is a hydrogen or a substituted or unsubstituted, linear orbranched, C₁-C₁₂ alkyl. C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₁-C₃ alkyl, C₁-C₁₂ heteroalkyl,C₁-C₆ heteroalkyl, or C₁-C₃ heteroalkyl. In some aspects, each of therepeat units in the first plurality of repeat units has a structureaccording to Formula 1A above, and each of the repeat units in thesecond plurality of repeat units has a structure according to Formula 2above.

In some aspects, the polyolefin copolymer is a random copolymer of afirst plurality of repeat units and a second plurality of repeat units,and each repeat unit in the first plurality of repeat units is derivedfrom ethylene and the each repeat unit in the second plurality of repeatunits is derived from a second olefin. In some aspects, the secondolefin is an alkene monomer having about 1 to about 6 carbon atoms. Inother aspects, the second olefin includes propylene, 4-methyl-1-pentene,1-butene, or other linear or branched terminal alkenes having about 3 to12 carbon atoms. In some aspects, the polyolefin copolymer containsabout 80% to about 99%, about 85% to about 99%, about 90% to about 99%,or about 95% to about 99% polyolefin repeat units by weight based upon atotal weight of the polyolefin copolymer. In some aspects, thepolyolefin copolymer consists essentially of polyolefin repeat units. Insome aspects, polymers in the resin composition consist essentially ofpolyolefin copolymers.

The polyolefin copolymer can include ethylene, i.e. can include repeatunits derived from ethylene such as those in Formula 1A. In someaspects, the polyolefin copolymer includes about 1% to about 5%, about1% to about 3%, about 2% to about 3%, or about 2% to about 5% ethyleneby weight based upon a total weight of the polyolefin copolymer.

The resin compositions can be made without the need for polyurethanesand/or without the need for polyamides. For example, in some aspects thepolyolefin copolymer is substantially free of polyurethanes. In someaspects, the polymer chains of the polyolefin copolymer aresubstantially free of urethane repeat units. In some aspects, the resincomposition is substantially free of polymer chains including urethanerepeat units. In some aspects, the polyolefin copolymer is substantiallyfree of polyamide. In some aspects, the polymer chains of the polyolefincopolymer are substantially free of amide repeat units. In some aspects,the resin composition is substantially free of polymer chains includingamide repeat units.

In some aspects, the polyolefin copolymer includes polypropylene or is apolypropylene copolymer. In some aspects, the polymeric component of theresin composition (i.e., the portion of the resin composition that isformed by all of the polymers present in the composition) consistsessentially of polypropylene copolymers. In some aspects the resincomposition is provided including a polypropylene copolymer, and aneffective amount of a polymeric resin modifier, wherein the resincomposition has an abrasion loss as described above, and wherein theeffective amount of the polymeric resin modifier is an amount effectiveto allow the resin composition to pass a flex test pursuant to the ColdRoss Flex Test using the Plaque Sampling Procedure. In some aspects, theeffective amount of the polymeric resin modifier is an amount effectiveto allow the resin composition to pass a flex test pursuant to the ColdRoss Flex Test using the Plaque Sampling Procedure without a significantchange in an abrasion loss as compared to an abrasion loss of a secondresin composition identical to the resin composition except without thepolymeric resin modifier when measured pursuant to ASTM D 5963-97a usingthe Material Sampling Procedure.

The polypropylene copolymer can include a random copolymer, e.g. arandom copolymer of ethylene and propylene. The polypropylene copolymercan include about 80% to about 99%, about 85% to about 99%, about 90% toabout 99%, or about 95% to about 99% propylene repeat units by weightbased upon a total weight of the polypropylene copolymer. In someaspects, the polypropylene copolymer includes about 1% to about 5%,about 1% to about 3%, about 2% to about 3%, or about 2% to about 5%ethylene by weight based upon a total weight of the polypropylenecopolymer. In some aspects, the polypropylene copolymer is a randomcopolymer including about 2% to about 3% of a first plurality of repeatunits by weight and about 80% to about 99% by weight of a secondplurality of repeat units based upon a total weight of the polypropylenecopolymer; wherein each of the repeat units in the first plurality ofrepeat units has a structure according to Formula 1A above and each ofthe repeat units in the second plurality of repeat units has a structureaccording to Formula 1B above.

The combination of abrasion resistance and flexural durability can berelated to the overall crystallinity of the resin composition. In someaspects, the resin composition has a percent crystallization (%crystallization) of about 45%, about 40%, about 35%, about 30%, about25% or less when measured according to the Differential ScanningCalorimeter (DSC) Test using the Material Sampling Procedure. It hasbeen found that adding the polymeric resin modifier to the resincomposition in an amount which only slightly decreases the %crystallinity of the resin composition as compared to an otherwiseidentical resin composition except without the polymeric resin modifiercan result in resin compositions which are able to pass the Cold RossFlex test while maintaining a relatively low abrasion loss. In someaspects, the polymeric resin modifier leads to a decrease in the percentcrystallinity (% crystallinity) of the resin composition. In someaspects, the resin composition has a percent crystallization (%crystallization) that is at least 6, at least 5, at least 4, at least 3,or at least 2 percentage points less than a percent crystallization (%crystallization) of the otherwise same resin composition except withoutthe polymeric resin modifier when measured according to the DifferentialScanning Calorimeter (DSC) Test using the Material Sampling Procedure.

In some aspects, the effective amount of the polymeric resin modifier isabout 5% to about 30%, about 5% to about 25%, about 5% to about 20%,about 5% to about 15%, about 5% to about 10%, about 10% to about 15%,about 10% to about 20%, about 10% to about 25%, or about 10% to about30% by weight based upon a total weight of the resin composition. Insome aspects, the effective amount of the polymeric resin modifier isabout 20%, about 15%, about 10%, about 5%, or less by weight based upona total weight of the resin composition.

The polymeric resin modifier can include a variety of exemplary resinmodifiers described herein. In some aspects, the polymeric resinmodifier is a metallocene catalyzed copolymer primarily composed ofisotactic propylene repeat units with about 11% by weight-15% by weightof ethylene repeat units based on a total weight of metallocenecatalyzed copolymer randomly distributed along the copolymer. In someaspects, the polymeric resin modifier includes about 10% to about 15%ethylene repeat units by weight based upon a total weight of thepolymeric resin modifier. In some aspects, the polymeric resin modifierincludes about 10% to about 15% repeat units according to Formula 1Aabove by weight based upon a total weight of the polymeric resinmodifier. In some aspects, the polymeric resin modifier is a copolymerof repeat units according to Formula 1B above, and the repeat unitsaccording to Formula 1B are arranged in an isotactic stereochemicalconfiguration.

In some aspects, the polymeric resin modifier is a copolymer containingisotactic propylene repeat units and ethylene repeat units. In someaspects, the polymeric resin modifier is a copolymer including a firstplurality of repeat units and a second plurality of repeat units;wherein each of the repeat units in the first plurality of repeat unitshas a structure according to Formula 1A above and each of the repeatunits in the second plurality of repeat units has a structure accordingto Formula 1B above, and wherein the repeat units in the secondplurality of repeat units are arranged in an isotactic stereochemicalconfiguration.

Hydrogel Materials

In an aspect, the hydrogel material comprises a polyurethane hydrogel.The hydrogel material can comprise a polyamide hydrogel, a polyureahydrogel, a polyester hydrogel, a polycarbonate hydrogel, apolyetheramide hydrogel, a hydrogel formed of addition polymers ofethylenically unsaturated monomers, copolymers thereof (e.g.,co-polyesters, co-polyethers, co-polyamides, co-polyurethanes,co-polyolefins), and combinations thereof. Additional details areprovided herein.

The term “externally facing” as used in “externally facing layer” refersto the position the element is intended to be in when the element ispresent in an article during normal use. If the article is footwear, theelement is positioned toward the ground during normal use by a wearerwhen in a standing position, and thus can contact the ground includingunpaved surfaces when the footwear is used in a conventional manner,such as standing, walking or running on an unpaved surface. In otherwords, even though the element may not necessarily be facing the groundduring various steps of manufacturing or shipping, if the element isintended to face the ground during normal use by a wearer, the elementis understood to be externally-facing or more specifically for anarticle of footwear, ground-facing. In some circumstances, due to thepresence of elements such as traction elements, the externally facing(e.g., ground-facing) surface can be positioned toward the ground duringconventional use but may not necessarily come into contact the ground.For example, on hard ground or paved surfaces, the terminal ends oftraction elements on the outsole may directly contact the ground, whileportions of the outsole located between the traction elements do not. Asdescribed in this example, the portions of the outsole located betweenthe traction elements are considered to be externally facing (e.g.,ground-facing) even though they may not directly contact the ground inall circumstances.

It has been found the layered material and articles incorporating thelayered material (e.g. footwear) can prevent or reduce the accumulationof soil on the externally-facing layer of the layered material duringwear on unpaved surfaces. As used herein, the term “soil” can includeany of a variety of materials commonly present on a ground or playingsurface and which might otherwise adhere to an outsole or exposedmidsole of a footwear article. Soil can include inorganic materials suchas mud, sand, dirt, and gravel; organic matter such as grass, turf,leaves, other vegetation, and excrement; and combinations of inorganicand organic materials such as clay. Additionally, soil can include othermaterials such as pulverized rubber which may be present on or in anunpaved surface.

While not wishing to be bound by theory, it is believed that the layeredmaterial (e.g., the hydrogel material) in accordance with the presentdisclosure, when sufficiently wet with water (including water containingdissolved, dispersed or otherwise suspended materials) can providecompressive compliance and/or expulsion of uptaken water. In particular,it is believed that the compressive compliance of the wet layeredmaterial, the expulsion of liquid from the wet layered material, or bothin combination, can disrupt the adhesion of soil on or at the outsole,or the cohesion of the particles to each other, or can disrupt both theadhesion and cohesion. This disruption in the adhesion and/or cohesionof soil is believed to be a responsible mechanism for preventing (orotherwise reducing) the soil from accumulating on the footwear outsole(due to the presence of the wet material).

This disruption in the adhesion and/or cohesion of soil is believed tobe a responsible mechanism for preventing (or otherwise reducing) thesoil from accumulating on the footwear outsole (due to the presence ofthe layered material). As can be appreciated, preventing soil fromaccumulating on the bottom of footwear can improve the performance oftraction elements present on the outsole during wear on unpavedsurfaces, can prevent the footwear from gaining weight due toaccumulated soil during wear, can preserve ball handling performance ofthe footwear, and thus can provide significant benefits to wearer ascompared to an article of footwear without the material present on theoutsole.

In aspects where the layered material (e.g., hydrogel material) swells,the swelling of the layered material can be observed as an increase inmaterial thickness from the dry-state thickness of the layered material,through a range of intermediate-state thicknesses as additional water isabsorbed, and finally to a saturated-state thickness layered material,which is an average thickness of the layered material when fullysaturated with water. For example, the saturated-state thickness for thefully saturated layered material can be greater than 150%, greater than200%, greater than 250%, greater than 300%, greater than 350%, greaterthan 400%, or greater than 500%, of the dry-state thickness for the samelayered material (e.g., the hydrogel material), as characterized by theSwelling Capacity Test. In some aspects, the saturated-state thicknessfor the fully saturated layered material can be about 150% to 500%,about 150% to 400%, about 150% to 300%, or about 200% to 300% of thedry-state thickness for the same layered material. Examples of suitableaverage thicknesses for the layered material in a wet state (referred toas a saturated-state thickness) can be about 0.2 millimeters to 10millimeters, about 0.2 millimeters to 5 millimeters, about 0.2millimeters to 2 millimeters, about 0.25 millimeters to 2 millimeters,or about 0.5 millimeters to 1 millimeter.

In particular aspects, the layered material in neat form can have anincrease in thickness at 1 hour of about 35% to 400%, about 50% to 300%,or about 100% to 200%, as characterized by the Swelling Capacity Test.In some further embodiments, the layered material in neat form can havean increase in thickness at 24 hours of about 45% to 500%, about 100% to400%, or about 150% to 300%. Correspondingly, the outsole film in neatform can have an increase in film volume at 1 hour of about 50% to 500%,about 75% to 400%, or about 100% to 300%.

In particular aspects, the layered material can quickly take up waterthat is in contact with the layered material. For instance, the layeredmaterial can take up water from mud and wet grass, such as during awarmup period prior to a competitive match. Alternatively (oradditionally), the layered material can be pre-conditioned with water sothat the layered material is partially or fully saturated, such as byspraying or soaking the layered material with water prior to use.

In particular aspects, the layered material can exhibit an overall wateruptake capacity of about 25% to 225% as measured in the Water UptakeCapacity Test over a soaking time of 24 hours using the ComponentSampling Procedure, as will be defined below. Alternatively, the overallwater uptake capacity exhibited by the layered material is in the rangeof about 30% to about 200%; alternatively, about 50% to about 150%;alternatively, about 75% to about 125%. For the purpose of thisdisclosure, the term “overall water uptake capacity” is used torepresent the amount of water by weight taken up by the layered materialas a percentage by weight of dry layered material. The procedure formeasuring overall water uptake capacity includes measurement of the“dry” weight of the layered material, immersion of the layered materialin water at ambient temperature (˜23° C.) for a predetermined amount oftime, followed by re-measurement of the weight of the layered materialwhen “wet”. The procedure for measuring the overall weight uptakecapacity according to the Water Uptake Capacity Test using the ComponentSampling Procedure is described below.

In an aspect, the layered material can also be characterized by a wateruptake rate of 10 g/m²/√min to 120 g/m²/√min as measured in the WaterUptake Rate Test using the Material Sampling Procedure. The water uptakerate is defined as the weight (in grams) of water absorbed per squaremeter (m²) of the elastomeric material over the square root of thesoaking time (√min). Alternatively, the water uptake rate ranges fromabout 12 g/m²/√min to about 100 g/m²/√min; alternatively, from about 25g/m²/√min to about 90 g/m²/√min; alternatively, up to about 60g/m²/√min.

In an aspect, the overall water uptake capacity and the water uptakerate can be dependent upon the amount of the hydrogel material that ispresent in the layered material. The hydrogel material can characterizedby a water uptake capacity of 50% to 2000% as measured according to theWater Uptake Capacity Test using the Material Sampling Procedure. Inthis case, the water uptake capacity of the hydrogel material isdetermined based on the amount of water by weight taken up by thehydrogel material as a percentage by weight of dry hydrogel material.Alternatively, the water uptake capacity exhibited by the hydrogelmaterial is in the range of about 100% to about 1500%; alternatively, inthe range of about 300% to about 1200%.

As also discussed above, in some aspects, the surface of the layeredmaterial preferably exhibits hydrophilic properties. The hydrophilicproperties of the layered material surface can be characterized bydetermining the static sessile drop contact angle of the layeredmaterial's surface. Accordingly, in some examples, the layeredmaterial's surface in a dry state has a static sessile drop contactangle (or dry-state contact angle) of less than 105°, or less than 95°,less than 85°, as characterized by the Contact Angle Test. The ContactAngle Test can be conducted on a sample obtained in accordance with theArticle Sampling Procedure or the Co-Extruded Film Sampling Procedure.In some further examples, the layered material in a dry state has astatic sessile drop contact angle ranging from 60° to 100°, from 70° to100°, or from 65° to 95°.

In other examples, the surface of the layered material in a wet statehas a static sessile drop contact angle (or wet-state contact angle) ofless than 90°, less than 80°, less than 70°, or less than 60°. In somefurther examples, the surface in a wet state has a static sessile dropcontact angle ranging from 45° to 75°. In some cases, the dry-statestatic sessile drop contact angle of the surface is greater than thewet-state static sessile drop contact angle of the surface by at least10°, at least 15°, or at least 20°, for example from 10° to 40°, from10° to 30°, or from 10° to 20°.

The surface of the layered material, including the surface of an articlecan also exhibit a low coefficient of friction when the material is wet.Examples of suitable coefficients of friction for the layered materialin a dry state (or dry-state coefficient of friction) are less than 1.5,for instance ranging from 0.3 to 1.3, or from 0.3 to 0.7, ascharacterized by the Coefficient of Friction Test. The Coefficient ofFriction Test can be conducted on a sample obtained in accordance withthe Article Sampling Procedure, or the Co-Extruded Film SamplingProcedure. Examples of suitable coefficients of friction for the layeredmaterial in a wet state (or wet-state coefficient of friction) are lessthan 0.8 or less than 0.6, for instance ranging from 0.05 to 0.6, from0.1 to 0.6, or from 0.3 to 0.5. Furthermore, the layered material canexhibit a reduction in its coefficient of friction from its dry state toits wet state, such as a reduction ranging from 15% to 90%, or from 50%to 80%. In some cases, the dry-state coefficient of friction is greaterthan the wet-state coefficient of friction for the material, for examplebeing higher by a value of at least 0.3 or 0.5, such as 0.3 to 1.2 or0.5 to 1.

Furthermore, the compliance of the layered material, including anarticle comprising the material, can be characterized by based on thelayered material's storage modulus in the dry state (when equilibratedat 0% relative humidity (RH)), and in a partially wet state (e.g., whenequilibrated at 50% RH or at 90% RH), and by reductions in its storagemodulus between the dry and wet states. In particular, the layeredmaterial can have a reduction in storage modulus (4E′) from the drystate relative to the wet state. A reduction in storage modulus as thewater concentration in the hydrogel-containing material increasescorresponds to an increase in compliance, because less stress isrequired for a given strain/deformation.

In some aspects, the layered material exhibits a reduction in thestorage modulus from its dry state to its wet state (50% RH) of morethan 20%, more than 40%, more than 60%, more than 75%, more than 90%, ormore than 99%, relative to the storage modulus in the dry state, and ascharacterized by the Storage Modulus Test with the Neat Film SamplingProcess.

In some further aspects, the dry-state storage modulus of the layeredmaterial is greater than its wet-state (50% RH) storage modulus by morethan 25 megaPascals (MPa), by more than 50 MPa, by more than 100 MPa, bymore than 300 MPa, or by more than 500 MPa, for example ranging from 25MPa to 800 MPa, from 50 MPa to 800 MPa, from 100 MPa to 800 MPa, from200 MPa to 800 MPa, from 400 MPa to 800 MPa, from 25 MPa to 200 MPa,from 25 MPa to 100 MPa, or from 50 MPa to 200 MPa. Additionally, thedry-state storage modulus can range from 40 MPa to 800 MPa, from 100 MPato 600 MPa, or from 200 MPa to 400 MPa, as characterized by the StorageModulus Test. Additionally, the wet-state storage modulus can range from0.003 MPa to 100 MPa, from 1 MPa to 60 MPa, or from 20 MPa to 40 MPa.

In other aspects, the layered material exhibits a reduction in thestorage modulus from its dry state to its wet state (90% RH) of morethan 20%, more than 40%, more than 60%, more than 75%, more than 90%, ormore than 99%, relative to the storage modulus in the dry state, and ascharacterized by the Storage Modulus Test with the Neat Film SamplingProcess. In further aspects, the dry-state storage modulus of thelayered material is greater than its wet-state (90% RH) storage modulusby more than 25 megaPascals (MPa), by more than 50 MPa, by more than 100MPa, by more than 300 MPa, or by more than 500 MPa, for example rangingfrom 25 MPa to 800 MPa, from 50 MPa to 800 MPa, from 100 MPa to 800 MPa,from 200 MPa to 800 MPa, from 400 MPa to 800 MPa, from 25 MPa to 200MPa, from 25 MPa to 100 MPa, or from 50 MPa to 200 MPa. Additionally,the dry-state storage modulus can range from 40 MPa to 800 MPa, from 100MPa to 600 MPa, or from 200 MPa to 400 MPa, as characterized by theStorage Modulus Test. Additionally, the wet-state storage modulus canrange from 0.003 MPa to 100 MPa, from 1 MPa to 60 MPa, or from 20 MPa to40 MPa.

In addition to a reduction in storage modulus, the layered material canalso exhibit a reduction in its glass transition temperature from thedry state (when equilibrated at 0% relative humidity (RH) to the wetstate (when equilibrated at 90% RH). While not wishing to be bound bytheory, it is believed that the water taken up by the layered materialplasticizes the layered material, which reduces its storage modulus andits glass transition temperature, rendering the layered material morecompliant (e.g., compressible, expandable, and stretchable).

In some aspects, the layered material can exhibit a reduction in glasstransition temperature (ΔT_(g)) from its dry-state (0% RH) glasstransition temperature to its wet-state glass transition (90% RH)temperature of more than a 5° C. difference, more than a 6° C.difference, more than a 10° C. difference, or more than a 15° C.difference, as characterized by the Glass Transition Temperature Testwith the Neat Film Sampling Process or the Neat Material SamplingProcess. For instance, the reduction in glass transition temperature(ΔT_(g)) can range from more than a 5° C. difference to a 40° C.difference, from more than a 6° C. difference to a 50° C. difference,form more than a 10° C. difference to a 30° C. difference, from morethan a 30° C. difference to a 45° C. difference, or from a 15° C.difference to a 20° C. difference. The layered material can also exhibita dry glass transition temperature ranging from −40° C. to −80° C., orfrom −40° C. to −60° C.

Alternatively (or additionally), the reduction in glass transitiontemperature (ΔT_(g)) can range from a 5° C. difference to a 40° C.difference, form a 10° C. difference to a 30° C. difference, or from a15° C. difference to a 20° C. difference. The layered material can alsoexhibit a dry glass transition temperature ranging from −40° C. to −80°C., or from −40° C. to −60° C.

The total amount of water that the layered material can take up dependson a variety of factors, such as its composition (e.g., itshydrophilicity), its cross-linking density, its thickness, and the like.The water uptake capacity and the water uptake rate of the layeredmaterial are dependent on the size and shape of its geometry, and aretypically based on the same factors. Conversely, the water uptake rateis transient and can be defined kinetically. The three primary factorsfor water uptake rate for layered material present given part geometryinclude time, thickness, and the exposed surface area available fortaking up water.

Even though the layered material can swell as it takes up water andtransitions between the different material states with correspondingthicknesses, the saturated-state thickness of the layered materialpreferably remains less than the length of the traction element. Thisselection of the layered material and its corresponding dry andsaturated thicknesses ensures that the traction elements can continue toprovide ground-engaging traction during use of the footwear, even whenthe layered material is in a fully swollen state. For example, theaverage clearance difference between the lengths of the tractionelements and the saturated-state thickness of the layered material isdesirably at least 8 millimeters. For example, the average clearancedistance can be at least 9 millimeters, 10 millimeters, or more.

As also mentioned above, in addition to swelling, the compliance of thelayered material can also increase from being relatively stiff (i.e.,dry-state) to being increasingly stretchable, compressible, andmalleable (i.e., wet-state). The increased compliance accordingly canallow the layered material to readily compress under an applied pressure(e.g., during a foot strike on the ground), and in some aspects, toquickly expel at least a portion of its retained water (depending on theextent of compression). While not wishing to be bound by theory, it isbelieved that this compressive compliance alone, water expulsion alone,or both in combination can disrupt the adhesion and/or cohesion of soil,which prevents or otherwise reduces the accumulation of soil.

In addition to quickly expelling water, in particular examples, thecompressed layered material is capable of quickly re-absorbing waterwhen the compression is released (e.g., liftoff from a foot strikeduring normal use). As such, during use in a wet or damp environment(e.g., a muddy or wet ground), the layered material can dynamicallyexpel and repeatedly take up water over successive foot strikes,particularly from a wet surface. As such, the layered material cancontinue to prevent soil accumulation over extended periods of time(e.g., during an entire competitive match), particularly when there isground water available for re-uptake.

In addition to being effective at preventing soil accumulation, thelayered material has also been found to be sufficiently durable for itsintended use on the ground-contacting side of the article of footwear.In various aspects, the useful life of the layered material (andfootwear containing it) is at least 10 hours, 20 hours, 50 hours, 100hours, 120 hours, or 150 hours of wear.

As used herein, the terms “take up”, “taking up”, “uptake”, “uptaking”,and the like refer to the drawing of a liquid (e.g., water) from anexternal source into the layered material, such as by absorption,adsorption, or both. Furthermore, as briefly mentioned above, the term“water” refers to an aqueous liquid that can be pure water, or can be anaqueous carrier with lesser amounts of dissolved, dispersed or otherwisesuspended materials (e.g., particulates, other liquids, and the like).

As described herein, the externally facing layer includes the firstmaterial. In an aspect, the first material comprises a hydrogelmaterial. The hydrogel material can comprise a polymeric hydrogel. Inaspect, the polymeric hydrogel can comprise or consist essentially of apolyurethane hydrogel. Polyurethane hydrogels are prepared from one ormore diisocyanate and one or more hydrophilic diol. The polymer may alsoinclude a hydrophobic diol in addition to the hydrophilic diol. Thepolymerization is normally carried out using roughly an equivalentamount of the diol and diisocyanate. Examples of hydrophilic diols arepolyethylene glycols or copolymers of ethylene glycol and propyleneglycol. The diisocyanate can be selected from a wide variety ofaliphatic or aromatic diisocyanates. The hydrophobicity of the resultingpolymer is determined by the amount and type of the hydrophilic diols,the type and amount of the hydrophobic diols, and the type and amount ofthe diisocyanates. Additional details regarding polyurethane areprovided herein.

In an aspect, the polymeric hydrogel can comprise or consist essentiallyof a polyurea hydrogel. Polyurea hydrogels are prepared from one or morediisocyanate and one or more hydrophilic diamine. The polymer may alsoinclude a hydrophobic diamine in addition to the hydrophilic diamines.The polymerization is normally carried out using roughly an equivalentamount of the diamine and diisocyanate. Typical hydrophilic diamines areamine-terminated polyethylene oxides and amine-terminated copolymers ofpolyethylene oxide/polypropylene. Examples are Jeffamine® diamines soldby Huntsman (The Woodlands, Tex., USA). The diisocyanate can be selectedfrom a wide variety of aliphatic or aromatic diisocyanates. Thehydrophobicity of the resulting polymer is determined by the amount andtype of the hydrophilic diamine, the type and amount of the hydrophobicamine, and the type and amount of the diisocyanate. Additional detailsregarding polyurea are provided herein.

In an aspect, the polymeric hydrogel can comprise or consist essentiallyof a polyester hydrogel. Polyester hydrogels can be prepared fromdicarboxylic acids (or dicarboxylic acid derivatives) and diols wherepart or all of the diol is a hydrophilic diol. Examples of hydrophilicdiols are polyethylene glycols or copolymers of ethylene glycol andpropylene glycol. A second hydrophobic diol can also be used to controlthe polarity of the final polymer. One or more diacid can be used whichcan be either aromatic or aliphatic. Of particular interest are blockpolyesters prepared from hydrophilic diols and lactones of hydroxyacids.The lactone is polymerized on the each end of the hydrophilic diol toproduce a triblock polymer. In addition, these triblock segments can belinked together to produce a multiblock polymer by reaction with adicarboxylic acid. Additional details regarding polyurea are providedherein.

In an aspect, the polymeric hydrogel can comprise or consist essentiallyof a polycarbonate hydrogel. Polycarbonates are typically prepared byreacting a diol with phosgene or a carbonate diester. A hydrophilicpolycarbonate is produced when part or all of the diol is a hydrophilicdiol. Examples of hydrophilic diols are hydroxyl terminated polyethersof ethylene glycol or polyethers of ethylene glycol with propyleneglycol. A second hydrophobic diol can also be included to control thepolarity of the final polymer. Additional details regardingpolycarbonate are provided herein.

In an embodiment, the polymeric hydrogel can comprise or consistessentially of a polyetheramide hydrogel. Polyetheramides are preparedfrom dicarboxylic acids (or dicarboxylic acid derivatives) and polyetherdiamines (a polyether terminated on each end with an amino group).Hydrophilic amine-terminated polyethers produce hydrophilic polymersthat will swell with water. Hydrophobic diamines can be used inconjunction with hydrophilic diamines to control the hydrophilicity ofthe final polymer. In addition, the type dicarboxylic acid segment canbe selected to control the polarity of the polymer and the physicalproperties of the polymer. Typical hydrophilic diamines areamine-terminated polyethylene oxides and amine-terminated copolymers ofpolyethylene oxide/polypropylene. Examples are Jeffamine® diamines soldby Huntsman (The Woodlands, Tex., USA). Additional details regardingpolyetheramide are provided herein.

In an aspect, the polymeric hydrogel can comprise or consist essentiallyof a hydrogel formed of addition polymers of ethylenically unsaturatedmonomers. The addition polymers of ethylenically unsaturated monomerscan be random polymers. Polymers prepared by free radical polymerizationof one of more hydrophilic ethylenically unsaturated monomer and one ormore hydrophobic ethylenically unsaturated monomers. Examples ofhydrophilic monomers are acrylic acid, methacrylic acid,2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulphonic acid, vinyl sulphonic acid,sodium p-styrene sulfonate,[3-(methacryloylamino)propyl]trimethylammonium chloride, 2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate, acrylamide, N, N-dimethylacrylamide, 2-vinylpyrrolidone,(meth)acrylate esters of polyethylene glycol, and (meth)acrylate estersof polyethylene glycol monomethyl ether. Examples of hydrophobicmonomers are (meth)acrylate esters of C1 to C4 alcohols, polystyrene,polystyrene methacrylate macromonomer and mono(meth)acrylate esters ofsiloxanes. The water uptake and physical characteristics are tuned byselection of the monomer and the amounts of each monomer type.Additional details regarding ethylenically unsaturated monomers areprovided herein.

The addition polymers of ethylenically unsaturated monomers can be combpolymers. Comb polymers are produced when one of the monomers is amacromer (an oligomer with an ethylenically unsaturated group one end).In one case the main chain is hydrophilic while the side chains arehydrophobic. Alternatively the comb backbone can be hydrophobic whilethe side chains are hydrophilic. An example is a backbone of ahydrophobic monomer such as styrene with the methacrylate monoester ofpolyethylene glycol.

The addition polymers of ethylenically unsaturated monomers can be blockpolymers. Block polymers of ethylenically unsaturated monomers can beprepared by methods such as anionic polymerization or controlled freeradical polymerization. Hydrogels are produced when the polymer has bothhydrophilic blocks and hydrophobic blocks. The polymer can be a diblockpolymer (A-B) polymer, triblock polymer (A-B-A) or multiblock polymer.Triblock polymers with hydrophobic end blocks and a hydrophilic centerblock are most useful for this application. Block polymers can beprepared by other means as well. Partial hydrolysis of polyacrylonitrilepolymers produces multiblock polymers with hydrophilic domains(hydrolyzed) separated by hydrophobic domains (unhydrolyzed) such thatthe partially hydrolyzed polymer acts as a hydrogel. The hydrolysisconverts acrylonitrile units to hydrophilic acrylamide or acrylic acidunits in a multiblock pattern.

The polymeric hydrogel can comprise or consist essentially of a hydrogelformed of copolymers. Copolymers combine two or more types of polymerswithin each polymer chain to achieve the desired set of properties. Ofparticular interest are polyurethane/polyurea copolymers,polyurethane/polyester copolymers, polyester/polycarbonate copolymers.

Now having described aspects of the hydrogel material, the elastomermaterial, the thermoplastic hot melt adhesive, and the tie layer,additional details are provided regarding the thermoplastic polymer. Inaspects, thermoplastic polymer can include polymers of the same ordifferent types of monomers (e.g., homopolymers and copolymers,including terpolymers). In certain aspects, the thermoplastic polymercan include different monomers randomly distributed in the polymer(e.g., a random co-polymer). The term “polymer” refers to a polymerizedmolecule having one or more monomer species that can be the same ordifferent. When the monomer species are the same, the polymer can betermed homopolymer and when the monomers are different, the polymer canbe referred to as a copolymer. The term “copolymer” is a polymer havingtwo or more types of monomer species, and includes terpolymers (i.e.,copolymers having three monomer species). In an aspect, the “monomer”can include different functional groups or segments, but for simplicityis generally referred to as a monomer.

For example, the thermoplastic polymer can be a polymer having repeatingpolymeric units of the same chemical structure (segments) which arerelatively harder (hard segments), and repeating polymeric segmentswhich are relatively softer (soft segments). In various aspects, thepolymer has repeating hard segments and soft segments, physicalcrosslinks can be present within the segments or between the segments orboth within and between the segments. Particular examples of hardsegments include isocyanate segments. Particular examples of softsegments include an alkoxy group such as polyether segments andpolyester segments. As used herein, the polymeric segment can bereferred to as being a particular type of polymeric segment such as, forexample, an isocyanate segment (e.g., diisocyante segment), an alkokypolyamide segment (e.g., a polyether segment, a polyester segment), andthe like. It is understood that the chemical structure of the segment isderived from the described chemical structure. For example, anisocyanate segment is a polymerized unit including an isocyanatefunctional group. When referring to polymeric segments of a particularchemical structure, the polymer can contain up to 10 mol % of segmentsof other chemical structures. For example, as used herein, a polyethersegment is understood to include up to 10 mol % of non-polyethersegments.

In certain aspects, the thermoplastic polymer can be a thermoplasticpolyurethane (also referred to as “TPU”). In aspects, the thermoplasticpolyurethane can be a thermoplastic polyurethane polymer. In suchaspects, the thermoplastic polyurethane polymer can include hard andsoft segments. In aspects, the hard segments can comprise or consist ofisocyanate segments (e.g., diisocyanate segments). In the same oralternative aspects, the soft segments can comprise or consist of alkoxysegments (e.g., polyether segments, or polyester segments, or acombination of polyether segments and polyester segments). In aparticular aspect, the thermoplastic material can comprise or consistessentially of an elastomeric thermoplastic polyurethane havingrepeating hard segments and repeating soft segments.

Thermoplastic Polyurethanes

In aspects, one or more of the thermoplastic polyurethanes can beproduced by polymerizing one or more isocyanates with one or morepolyols to produce polymer chains having carbamate linkages (—N(CO)O—)as illustrated below in Formula 1, where the isocyanate(s) eachpreferably include two or more isocyanate (—NCO) groups per molecule,such as 2, 3, or 4 isocyanate groups per molecule (although,single-functional isocyanates can also be optionally included, e.g., aschain terminating units).

In these embodiments, each R₁ and R₂ independently is an aliphatic oraromatic segment. Optionally, each R₂ can be a hydrophilic segment.

Additionally, the isocyanates can also be chain extended with one ormore chain extenders to bridge two or more isocyanates. This can producepolyurethane polymer chains as illustrated below in Formula 2, where R₃includes the chain extender. As with each R₁ and R₃, each R₃independently is an aliphatic or aromatic segment.

Each segment R₁, or the first segment, in Formulas 1 and 2 canindependently include a linear or branched C₃₋₃₀ segment, based on theparticular isocyanate(s) used, and can be aliphatic, aromatic, orinclude a combination of aliphatic portions(s) and aromatic portion(s).The term “aliphatic” refers to a saturated or unsaturated organicmolecule that does not include a cyclically conjugated ring systemhaving delocalized pi electrons. In comparison, the term “aromatic”refers to a cyclically conjugated ring system having delocalized pielectrons, which exhibits greater stability than a hypothetical ringsystem having localized pi electrons.

Each segment R₁ can be present in an amount of 5% to 85% by weight, from5% to 70% by weight, or from 10% to 50% by weight, based on the totalweight of the reactant monomers.

In aliphatic embodiments (from aliphatic isocyanate(s)), each segment R₁can include a linear aliphatic group, a branched aliphatic group, acycloaliphatic group, or combinations thereof. For instance, eachsegment R₁ can include a linear or branched C₃₋₂₀ alkylene segment(e.g., C₄₋₁₅ alkylene or C₆₋₁₀ alkylene), one or more C₃₋₈ cycloalkylenesegments (e.g., cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl,cycloheptyl, or cyclooctyl), and combinations thereof.

Examples of suitable aliphatic diisocyanates for producing thepolyurethane polymer chains include hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI),isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI), butylenediisocyanate (BDI),bisisocyanatocyclohexyl methane (HMDI), 2,2,4-trimethylhexamethylenediisocyanate (T_(m)DI), bisisocyanatomethylcyclohexane,bisisocyanatomethyltricyclodecane, norbornane diisocyanate (NDI),cyclohexane diisocyanate (CHDI), 4,4′-dicyclohexylmethane diisocyanate(H12MDI), diisocyanatododecane, lysine diisocyanate, and combinationsthereof.

In an aspect, the diisocyanate segments can include aliphaticdiisocyanate segments. In one aspect, a majority of the diisocyanatesegments comprise the aliphatic diisocyanate segments. In an aspect, atleast 90% of the diisocyanate segments are aliphatic diisocyanatesegments. In an aspect, the diisocyanate segments consist essentially ofaliphatic diisocyanate segments. In an aspect, the aliphaticdiisocyanate segments are substantially (e.g., about 50% or more, about60% or more, about 70% or more, about 80% or more, about 90% or more)linear aliphatic diisocyanate segments. In an aspect, at least 80% ofthe aliphatic diisocyanate segments are aliphatic diisocyanate segmentsthat are free of side chains. In an aspect, the aliphatic diisocyanatesegments include C₂-C₁₀ linear aliphatic diisocyanate segments.

In aromatic embodiments (from aromatic isocyanate(s)), each segment R₁can include one or more aromatic groups, such as phenyl, naphthyl,tetrahydronaphthyl, phenanthrenyl, biphenylenyl, indanyl, indenyl,anthracenyl, and fluorenyl. Unless otherwise indicated, an aromaticgroup can be an unsubstituted aromatic group or a substituted aromaticgroup, and can also include heteroaromatic groups. “Heteroaromatic”refers to monocyclic or polycyclic (e.g., fused bicyclic and fusedtricyclic) aromatic ring systems, where one to four ring atoms areselected from oxygen, nitrogen, or sulfur, and the remaining ring atomsare carbon, and where the ring system is joined to the remainder of themolecule by any of the ring atoms. Examples of suitable heteroarylgroups include pyridyl, pyrazinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrrolyl, pyrazolyl,imidazolyl, thiazolyl, tetrazolyl, oxazolyl, isooxazolyl, thiadiazolyl,oxadiazolyl, furanyl, quinolinyl, isoquinolinyl, benzoxazolyl,benzimidazolyl, and benzothiazolyl.

Examples of suitable aromatic diisocyanates for producing thepolyurethane polymer chains include toluene diisocyanate (TDI), TDIadducts with trimethyloylpropane (T_(m)P), methylene diphenyldiisocyanate (MDI), xylene diisocyanate (XDI), tetramethylxylylenediisocyanate (T_(m)XDI), hydrogenated xylene diisocyanate (HXDI),naphthalene 1,5-diisocyanate (NDI), 1,5-tetrahydronaphthalenediisocyanate, para-phenylene diisocyanate (PPDI),3,3′-dimethyldiphenyl-4, 4′-diisocyanate (DDDI), 4,4′-dibenzyldiisocyanate (DBDI), 4-chloro-1,3-phenylene diisocyanate, andcombinations thereof. In some embodiments, the polymer chains aresubstantially free of aromatic groups.

In particular aspects, the polyurethane polymer chains are produced fromdiisocynates including HMDI, TDI, MDI, H₁₂ aliphatics, and combinationsthereof. For example, the low processing temperature polymericcomposition of the present disclosure can comprise one or morepolyurethane polymer chains are produced from diisocynates includingHMDI, TDI, MDI, H₁₂ aliphatics, and combinations thereof.

In certain aspects, polyurethane chains which are crosslinked (e.g.,partially crosslinked polyurethane polymers which retain thermoplasticproperties) or which can be crosslinked, can be used in accordance withthe present disclosure. It is possible to produce crosslinked orcrosslinkable polyurethane polymer chains using multi-functionalisocyantes. Examples of suitable triisocyanates for producing thepolyurethane polymer chains include TDI, HDI, and IPDI adducts withtrimethyloylpropane (T_(m)P), uretdiones (i.e., dimerized isocyanates),polymeric MDI, and combinations thereof.

Segment R₃ in Formula 2 can include a linear or branched C₂-C₁₀ segment,based on the particular chain extender polyol used, and can be, forexample, aliphatic, aromatic, or polyether. Examples of suitable chainextender polyols for producing the polyurethane polymer chains includeethylene glycol, lower oligomers of ethylene glycol (e.g., diethyleneglycol, triethylene glycol, and tetraethylene glycol), 1,2-propyleneglycol, 1,3-propylene glycol, lower oligomers of propylene glycol (e.g.,dipropylene glycol, tripropylene glycol, and tetrapropylene glycol),1,4-butylene glycol, 2,3-butylene glycol, 1,6-hexanediol,1,8-octanediol, neopentyl glycol, 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol,2-ethyl-1,6-hexanediol, 1-methyl-1,3-propanediol,2-methyl-1,3-propanediol, dihydroxyalkylated aromatic compounds (e.g.,bis(2-hydroxyethyl) ethers of hydroquinone and resorcinol,xylene-a,a-diols, bis(2-hydroxyethyl) ethers of xylene-a,a-diols, andcombinations thereof.

Segment R₂ in Formula 1 and 2 can include a polyether group, a polyestergroup, a polycarbonate group, an aliphatic group, or an aromatic group.Each segment R₂ can be present in an amount of 5% to 85% by weight, from5% to 70% by weight, or from 10% to 50% by weight, based on the totalweight of the reactant monomers.

In some examples, at least one R₂ segment of the thermoplasticpolyurethane includes a polyether segment (i.e., a segment having one ormore ether groups). Suitable polyethers include, but are not limited to,polyethylene oxide (PEO), polypropylene oxide (PPO), polytetrahydrofuran(PTHF), polytetramethylene oxide (P T_(m)O), and combinations thereof.The term “alkyl” as used herein refers to straight chained and branchedsaturated hydrocarbon groups containing one to thirty carbon atoms, forexample, one to twenty carbon atoms, or one to ten carbon atoms. Theterm C_(n) means the alkyl group has “n” carbon atoms. For example, 04alkyl refers to an alkyl group that has 4 carbon atoms. C₁₋₇ alkylrefers to an alkyl group having a number of carbon atoms encompassingthe entire range (i.e., 1 to 7 carbon atoms), as well as all subgroups(e.g., 1-6, 2-7, 1-5, 3-6, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 carbon atoms).Non-limiting examples of alkyl groups include, methyl, ethyl, n-propyl,isopropyl, n-butyl, sec-butyl (2-methylpropyl), t-butyl(1,1-dimethylethyl), 3,3-dimethylpentyl, and 2-ethylhexyl. Unlessotherwise indicated, an alkyl group can be an unsubstituted alkyl groupor a substituted alkyl group.

In some examples of the thermoplastic polyurethane, the at least one R₂segment includes a polyester segment. The polyester segment can bederived from the polyesterification of one or more dihydric alcohols(e.g., ethylene glycol, 1,3-propylene glycol, 1,2-propylene glycol,1,4-butanediol, 1,3-butanediol, 2-methylpentanediol-1,5,diethyleneglycol, 1,5-pentanediol, 1,5-hexanediol, 1,2-dodecanediol,cyclohexanedimethanol, and combinations thereof) with one or moredicarboxylic acids (e.g., adipic acid, succinic acid, sebacic acid,suberic acid, methyladipic acid, glutaric acid, pimelic acid, azelaicacid, thiodipropionic acid and citraconic acid and combinationsthereof). The polyester also can be derived from polycarbonateprepolymers, such as poly(hexamethylene carbonate) glycol,poly(propylene carbonate) glycol, poly(tetramethylene carbonate)glycol,and poly(nonanemethylene carbonate) glycol. Suitable polyesters caninclude, for example, polyethylene adipate (PEA), poly(1,4-butyleneadipate), poly(tetramethylene adipate), poly(hexamethylene adipate),polycaprolactone, polyhexamethylene carbonate, poly(propylenecarbonate), poly(tetramethylene carbonate), poly(nonanemethylenecarbonate), and combinations thereof.

In various of the thermoplastic polyurethanes, at least one R₂ segmentincludes a polycarbonate segment. The polycarbonate segment can bederived from the reaction of one or more dihydric alcohols (e.g.,ethylene glycol, 1,3-propylene glycol, 1,2-propylene glycol,1,4-butanediol, 1,3-butanediol, 2-methylpentanediol-1,5, diethyleneglycol, 1,5-pentanediol, 1,5-hexanediol, 1,2-dodecanediol,cyclohexanedimethanol, and combinations thereof) with ethylenecarbonate.

In various examples, the aliphatic group is linear and can include, forexample, a C₁₋₂₀ alkylene chain or a C₁₋₂₀ alkenylene chain (e.g.,methylene, ethylene, propylene, butylene, pentylene, hexylene,heptylene, octylene, nonylene, decylene, undecylene, dodecylene,tridecylene, ethenylene, propenylene, butenylene, pentenylene,hexenylene, heptenylene, octenylene, nonenylene, decenylene,undecenylene, dodecenylene, tridecenylene). The term “alkylene” refersto a bivalent hydrocarbon. The term C_(n) means the alkylene group has“n” carbon atoms. For example, C₁₋₆ alkylene refers to an alkylene grouphaving, e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 carbon atoms. The term “alkenylene”refers to a bivalent hydrocarbon having at least one double bond.

In various aspects, the aliphatic and aromatic groups can be substitutedwith one or more pendant relatively hydrophilic and/or charged groups.In some aspects, the pendant hydrophilic group includes one or more(e.g., 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 or more) hydroxyl groups. In variousaspects, the pendant hydrophilic group includes one or more (e.g., 2, 3,4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 or more) amino groups. In some cases, the pendanthydrophilic group includes one or more (e.g., 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10or more) carboxylate groups. For example, the aliphatic group caninclude one or more polyacrylic acid group. In some cases, the pendanthydrophilic group includes one or more (e.g., 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10or more) sulfonate groups. In some cases, the pendant hydrophilic groupincludes one or more (e.g., 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 or more)phosphate groups. In some examples, the pendant hydrophilic groupincludes one or more ammonium groups (e.g., tertiary and/or quaternaryammonium). In other examples, the pendant hydrophilic group includes oneor more zwitterionic groups (e.g., a betaine, such aspoly(carboxybetaine (pCB) and ammonium phosphonate groups such as aphosphatidylcholine group).

In some aspects, the R₂ segment can include charged groups that arecapable of binding to a counterion to ionically crosslink thethermoplastic polymer and form ionomers. In these aspects, for example,R₂ is an aliphatic or aromatic group having pendant amino, carboxylate,sulfonate, phosphate, ammonium, or zwitterionic groups, or combinationsthereof.

In various cases when a pendant hydrophilic group is present, thependant “hydrophilic” group is at least one polyether group, such as twopolyether groups. In other cases, the pendant hydrophilic group is atleast one polyester. In various cases, the pendant hydrophilic group ispolylactone group (e.g., polyvinylpyrrolidone). Each carbon atom of thependant hydrophilic group can optionally be substituted with, e.g., aC₁₋₆ alkyl group. In some of these aspects, the aliphatic and aromaticgroups can be graft polymeric groups, wherein the pendant groups arehomopolymeric groups (e.g., polyether groups, polyester groups,polyvinylpyrrolidone groups).

In some aspects, the pendant hydrophilic group is a polyether group(e.g., a polyethylene oxide group, a polyethylene glycol group), apolyvinylpyrrolidone group, a polyacrylic acid group, or combinationsthereof.

The pendant hydrophilic group can be bonded to the aliphatic group oraromatic group through a linker. The linker can be any bifunctionalsmall molecule (e.g., C₁₋₂₀) capable of linking the pendant hydrophilicgroup to the aliphatic or aromatic group. For example, the linker caninclude a diisocyanate group, as previously described herein, which whenlinked to the pendant hydrophilic group and to the aliphatic or aromaticgroup forms a carbamate bond. In some aspects, the linker can be4,4′-diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI), as shown below.

In some exemplary aspects, the pendant hydrophilic group is apolyethylene oxide group and the linking group is MDI, as shown below.

In some cases, the pendant hydrophilic group is functionalized to enableit to bond to the aliphatic or aromatic group, optionally through thelinker. In various aspects, for example, when the pendant hydrophilicgroup includes an alkene group, which can undergo a Michael additionwith a sulfhydryl-containing bifunctional molecule (i.e., a moleculehaving a second reactive group, such as a hydroxyl group or aminogroup), to result in a hydrophilic group that can react with the polymerbackbone, optionally through the linker, using the second reactivegroup. For example, when the pendant hydrophilic group is apolyvinylpyrrolidone group, it can react with the sulfhydryl group onmercaptoethanol to result in hydroxyl-functionalizedpolyvinylpyrrolidone, as shown below.

In some of the aspects disclosed herein, at least one R₂ segmentincludes a polytetramethylene oxide group. In other exemplary aspects,at least one R₂ segment can include an aliphatic polyol groupfunctionalized with a polyethylene oxide group or polyvinylpyrrolidonegroup, such as the polyols described in E.P. Patent No. 2 462 908. Forexample, the R₂ segment can be derived from the reaction product of apolyol (e.g., pentaerythritol or 2,2,3-trihydroxypropanol) and eitherMDI-derivatized methoxypolyethylene glycol (to obtain compounds as shownin Formulas 6 or 7) or with MDI-derivatized polyvinylpyrrolidone (toobtain compounds as shown in Formulas 8 or 9) that had been previouslybeen reacted with mercaptoethanol, as shown below.

In various cases, at least one R₂ is a polysiloxane, In these cases, R₂can be derived from a silicone monomer of Formula 10, such as a siliconemonomer disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,969,076, which is herebyincorporated by reference:

wherein: a is 1 to 10 or larger (e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or10); each R₄ independently is hydrogen, C₁₋₁₈ alkyl, C₂₋₁₈ alkenyl,aryl, or polyether; and each R₅ independently is C₁₋₁₀ alkylene,polyether, or polyurethane.

In some aspects, each R₄ independently is a H, C₁₋₁₀ alkyl, C₂₋₁₀alkenyl, C₁₋₆ aryl, polyethylene, polypropylene, or polybutylene group.For example, each R₄ can independently be selected from the groupconsisting of methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl,s-butyl, t-butyl, ethenyl, propenyl, phenyl, and polyethylene groups.

In various aspects, each R⁵ independently includes a C₁₋₁₀ alkylenegroup (e.g., a methylene, ethylene, propylene, butylene, pentylene,hexylene, heptylene, octylene, nonylene, or decylene group). In othercases, each R⁵ is a polyether group (e.g., a polyethylene,polypropylene, or polybutylene group). In various cases, each R₅ is apolyurethane group.

Optionally, in some aspects, the polyurethane can include an at leastpartially crosslinked polymeric network that includes polymer chainsthat are derivatives of polyurethane. In such cases, it is understoodthat the level of crosslinking is such that the polyurethane retainsthermoplastic properties (i.e., the crosslinked thermoplasticpolyurethane can be softened or melted and re-solidified under theprocessing conditions described herein). This crosslinked polymericnetwork can be produced by polymerizing one or more isocyanates with oneor more polyamino compounds, polysulfhydryl compounds, or combinationsthereof, as shown in Formulas 11 and 12, below:

wherein the variables are as described above. Additionally, theisocyanates can also be chain extended with one or more polyamino orpolythiol chain extenders to bridge two or more isocyanates, such aspreviously described for the polyurethanes of Formula 2.

As described herein, the thermoplastic polyurethane can be physicallycrosslinked through e.g., nonpolar or polar interactions between theurethane or carbamate groups on the polymers (the hard segments. Inthese aspects, component R₁ in Formula 1, and components R₁ and R₃ inFormula 2, forms the portion of the polymer often referred to as the“hard segment”, and component R₂ forms the portion of the polymer oftenreferred to as the “soft segment”. In these aspects, the soft segmentcan be covalently bonded to the hard segment. In some examples, thethermoplastic polyurethane having physically crosslinked hard and softsegments can be a hydrophilic thermoplastic polyurethane (i.e., athermoplastic polyurethane including hydrophilic groups as disclosedherein).

Thermoplastic Polyamides

In various aspects, the thermoplastic polymer can comprise athermoplastic polyamide. The thermoplastic polyamide can be a polyamidehomopolymer having repeating polyamide segments of the same chemicalstructure. Alternatively, the polyamide can comprise a number ofpolyamide segments having different polyamide chemical structures (e.g.,polyamide 6 segments, polyamide 11 segments, polyamide 12 segments,polyamide 66 segments, etc.). The polyamide segments having differentchemical structure can be arranged randomly, or can be arranged asrepeating blocks.

In aspects, the thermoplastic polymers can be a block co-polyamide. Forexample, the block co-polyamide can have repeating hard segments, andrepeating soft segments. The hard segments can comprise polyamidesegments, and the soft segments can comprise non-polyamide segments. Thethermoplastic polymers can be an elastomeric thermoplastic co-polyamidecomprising or consisting of block co-polyamides having repeating hardsegments and repeating soft segments. In block co-polymers, includingblock co-polymers having repeating hard segments and soft segments,physical crosslinks can be present within the segments or between thesegments or both within and between the segments.

The thermoplastic polyamide can be a co-polyamide (i.e., a co-polymerincluding polyamide segments and non-polyamide segments). The polyamidesegments of the co-polyamide can comprise or consist of polyamide 6segments, polyamide 11 segments, polyamide 12 segments, polyamide 66segments, or any combination thereof. The polyamide segments of theco-polyamide can be arranged randomly, or can be arranged as repeatingsegments. In a particular example, the polyamide segments can compriseor consist of polyamide 6 segments, or polyamide 12 segments, or bothpolyamide 6 segment and polyamide 12 segments. In the example where thepolyamide segments of the co-polyamide include of polyamide 6 segmentsand polyamide 12 segments, the segments can be arranged randomly. Thenon-polyamide segments of the co-polyamide can comprise or consist ofpolyether segments, polyester segments, or both polyether segments andpolyester segments. The co-polyamide can be a co-polyamide, or can be arandom co-polyamide. The thermoplastic copolyamide can be formed fromthe polycodensation of a polyamide oligomer or prepolymer with a secondoligomer prepolymer to form a copolyamide (i.e., a co-polymer includingpolyamide segments. Optionally, the second prepolymer can be ahydrophilic prepolymer.

In some aspects, the thermoplastic polyamide itself, or the polyamidesegment of the thermoplastic copolyamide can be derived from thecondensation of polyamide prepolymers, such as lactams, amino acids,and/or diamino compounds with dicarboxylic acids, or activated formsthereof. The resulting polyamide segments include amide linkages(—(CO)NH—). The term “amino acid” refers to a molecule having at leastone amino group and at least one carboxyl group. Each polyamide segmentof the thermoplastic polyamide can be the same or different.

In some aspects, the thermoplastic polyamide or the polyamide segment ofthe thermoplastic copolyamide is derived from the polycondensation oflactams and/or amino acids, and includes an amide segment having astructure shown in Formula 13, below, wherein R₆ is the segment of thepolyamide derived from the lactam or amino acid.

In some aspects, R₆ is derived from a lactam. In some cases, R₆ isderived from a C₃₋₂₀ lactam, or a C₄₋₁₅ lactam, or a C₆₋₁₂ lactam. Forexample, R₆ can be derived from caprolactam or laurolactam. In somecases, R₆ is derived from one or more amino acids. In various cases, R₆is derived from a C₄₋₂₅ amino acid, or a C₅₋₂₀ amino acid, or a C₈₋₁₅amino acid. For example, R₆ can be derived from 12-aminolauric acid or11-aminoundecanoic acid.

Optionally, in order to increase the relative degree of hydrophilicityof the thermoplastic copolyamide, Formula 13 can include apolyamide-polyether block copolymer segment, as shown below:

wherein m is 3-20, and n is 1-8. In some exemplary aspects, m is 4-15,or 6-12 (e.g., 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, or 12), and n is 1, 2, or 3. Forexample, m can be 11 or 12, and n can be 1 or 3. In various aspects, thethermoplastic polyamide or the polyamide segment of the thermoplasticco-polyamideis derived from the condensation of diamino compounds withdicarboxylic acids, or activated forms thereof, and includes an amidesegment having a structure shown in Formula 15, below, wherein R₇ is thesegment of the polyamide derived from the diamino compound, R₈ is thesegment derived from the dicarboxylic acid compound:

In some aspects, R₇ is derived from a diamino compound that includes analiphatic group having C₄₋₁₅ carbon atoms, or C₅₋₁₀ carbon atoms, orC₆₋₉ carbon atoms. In some aspects, the diamino compound includes anaromatic group, such as phenyl, naphthyl, xylyl, and tolyl. Suitablediamino compounds from which R₇ can be derived include, but are notlimited to, hexamethylene diamine (HMD), tetramethylene diamine,trimethyl hexamethylene diamine (T_(m)D),m-xylylene diamine (MXD), and1,5-pentamine diamine. In various aspects, R₈ is derived from adicarboxylic acid or activated form thereof, includes an aliphatic grouphaving C₄₋₁₅ carbon atoms, or C₅₋₁₂ carbon atoms, or C₆₋₁₀ carbon atoms.In some cases, the dicarboxylic acid or activated form thereof fromwhich R₈ can be derived includes an aromatic group, such as phenyl,naphthyl, xylyl, and tolyl groups. Suitable carboxylic acids oractivated forms thereof from which R₈ can be derived include, but arenot limited to adipic acid, sebacic acid, terephthalic acid, andisophthalic acid. In some aspects, the polymer chains are substantiallyfree of aromatic groups.

In some aspects, each polyamide segment of the thermoplastic polyamide(including the thermoplastic copolyamide) is independently derived froma polyamide prepolymer selected from the group consisting of12-aminolauric acid, caprolactam, hexamethylene diamine and adipic acid.

In some aspects, the thermoplastic polyamide comprises or consists of athermoplastic poly(ether-block-amide). The thermoplasticpoly(ether-block-amide) can be formed from the polycondensation of acarboxylic acid terminated polyamide prepolymer and a hydroxylterminated polyether prepolymer to form a thermoplasticpoly(ether-block-amide), as shown in Formula 16:

In various aspects, a disclosed poly(ether block amide) polymer isprepared by polycondensation of polyamide blocks containing reactiveends with polyether blocks containing reactive ends. Examples include,but are not limited to: 1) polyamide blocks containing diamine chainends with polyoxyalkylene blocks containing carboxylic chain ends; 2)polyamide blocks containing dicarboxylic chain ends with polyoxyalkyleneblocks containing diamine chain ends obtained by cyanoethylation andhydrogenation of aliphatic dihydroxylated alpha-omega polyoxyalkylenesknown as polyether diols; 3) polyamide blocks containing dicarboxylicchain ends with polyether diols, the products obtained in thisparticular case being polyetheresteramides. The polyamide block of thethermoplastic poly(ether-block-amide) can be derived from lactams, aminoacids, and/or diamino compounds with dicarboxylic acids as previouslydescribed. The polyether block can be derived from one or morepolyethers selected from the group consisting of polyethylene oxide(PEO), polypropylene oxide (PPO), polytetrahydrofuran (PTHF),polytetramethylene oxide (PTMO), and combinations thereof.

Disclosed poly(ether block amide) polymers include those comprisingpolyamide blocks comprising dicarboxylic chain ends derived from thecondensation of α, ω-aminocarboxylic acids, of lactams or ofdicarboxylic acids and diamines in the presence of a chain-limitingdicarboxylic acid. In poly(ether block amide) polymers of this type, aα, ω-aminocarboxylic acid such as aminoundecanoic acid can be used; alactam such as caprolactam or lauryllactam can be used; a dicarboxylicacid such as adipic acid, decanedioic acid or dodecanedioic acid can beused; and a diamine such as hexamethylenediamine can be used; or variouscombinations of any of the foregoing. In various aspects, the copolymercomprises polyamide blocks comprising polyamide 12 or of polyamide 6.

Disclosed poly(ether block amide) polymers include those comprisingpolyamide blocks derived from the condensation of one or more α,ω-aminocarboxylic acids and/or of one or more lactams containing from 6to 12 carbon atoms in the presence of a dicarboxylic acid containingfrom 4 to 12 carbon atoms, and are of low mass, i.e., they have an M_(n)of from 400 to 1000. In poly(ether block amide) polymers of this type, aα, ω-aminocarboxylic acid such as aminoundecanoic acid oraminododecanoic acid can be used; a dicarboxylic acids such as adipicacid, sebacic acid, isophthalic acid, butanedioic acid,1,4-cyclohexyldicarboxylic acid, terephthalic acid, the sodium orlithium salt of sulphoisophthalic acid, dimerized fatty acids (thesedimerized fatty acids have a dimer content of at least 98% and arepreferably hydrogenated) and dodecanedioic acid HOOC—(CH₂)₁₀-000H can beused; and a lactam such as caprolactam and lauryllactam can be used; orvarious combinations of any of the foregoing. In various aspects, thecopolymer comprises polyamide blocks obtained by condensation oflauryllactam in the presence of adipic acid or dodecanedioic acid andwith a M_(n) of 750 have a melting point of 127-130° C. In a furtheraspect, the various constituents of the polyamide block and theirproportion can be chosen in order to obtain a melting point of less than150° C. and advantageously between 90° C. and 135° C.

Disclosed poly(ether block amide) polymers include those comprisingpolyamide blocks derived from the condensation of at least one α,ω-aminocarboxylic acid (or a lactam), at least one diamine and at leastone dicarboxylic acid. In copolymers of this type, a α,ω-aminocarboxylicacid, the lactam and the dicarboxylic acid can be chosen from thosedescribed herein above and the diamine such as an aliphatic diaminecontaining from 6 to 12 atoms and can be arylic and/or saturated cyclicsuch as, but not limited to, hexamethylenediamine, piperazine, 1-aminoethyl piperazine, bisaminopropylpiperazine, tetramethylenediamine,octamethylene-diamine, decamethylenediamine, dodecamethylenediamine,1,5-diaminohexane, 2,2,4-trimethyl-1,6-diaminohexane, diamine polyols,isophoronediamine (IPD), methylpentamethylenediamine (MPDM),bis(aminocyclohexyl)methane (BACM) andbis(3-methyl-4-aminocyclohexyl)methane (BMACM) can be used.

In various aspects, the constituents of the polyamide block and theirproportion can be chosen in order to obtain a melting point of less than150° C. and advantageously between 90° C. and 135° C. In a furtheraspect, the various constituents of the polyamide block and theirproportion can be chosen in order to obtain a melting point of less than150° C. and advantageously between 90° C. and 135° C.

In an aspect, the number average molar mass of the polyamide blocks canbe from about 300 g/mol and about 15,000 g/mol, from about 500 g/mol andabout 10,000 g/mol, from about 500 g/mol and about 6,000 g/mol, fromabout 500 g/mol to 5,000 g/mol, and from about 600 g/mol and about 5,000g/mol. In a further aspect, the number average molecular weight of thepolyether block can range from about 100 g/mol to about 6,000 g/mol,from about 400 g/mol to 3000 g/mol and from about 200 g/mol to about3,000 g/mol. In a still further aspect, the polyether (PE) content (x)of the poly(ether block amide) polymer can be from about 0.05 to about0.8 (i.e., from about 5 mol % to about 80 mol %). In a yet furtheraspect, the polyether blocks can be present from about 10 wt % to about50 wt %, from about 20 wt % to about 40 wt %, and from about 30 wt % toabout 40 wt %. The polyamide blocks can be present from about 50 wt % toabout 90 wt %, from about 60 wt % to about 80 wt %, and from about 70 wt% to about 90 wt %.

In an aspect, the polyether blocks can contain units other than ethyleneoxide units, such as, for example, propylene oxide orpolytetrahydrofuran (which leads to polytetramethylene glycolsequences). It is also possible to use simultaneously PEG blocks, i.e.those consisting of ethylene oxide units, PPG blocks, i.e. thoseconsisting of propylene oxide units, and P T_(m)G blocks, i.e. thoseconsisting of tetramethylene glycol units, also known aspolytetrahydrofuran. PPG or P T_(m)G blocks are advantageously used. Theamount of polyether blocks in these copolymers containing polyamide andpolyether blocks can be from about 10 wt % to about 50 wt % of thecopolymer and from about 35 wt % to about 50 wt %.

The copolymers containing polyamide blocks and polyether blocks can beprepared by any means for attaching the polyamide blocks and thepolyether blocks. In practice, two processes are essentially used, onebeing a 2-step process and the other a one-step process.

In the two-step process, the polyamide blocks having dicarboxylic chainends are prepared first, and then, in a second step, these polyamideblocks are linked to the polyether blocks. The polyamide blocks havingdicarboxylic chain ends are derived from the condensation of polyamideprecursors in the presence of a chain-stopper dicarboxylic acid. If thepolyamide precursors are only lactams or α,ω-aminocarboxylic acids, adicarboxylic acid is added. If the precursors already comprise adicarboxylic acid, this is used in excess with respect to thestoichiometry of the diamines. The reaction usually takes place between180 and 300° C., preferably 200 to 290° C., and the pressure in thereactor is set between 5 and 30 bar and maintained for approximately 2to 3 hours. The pressure in the reactor is slowly reduced to atmosphericpressure and then the excess water is distilled off, for example for oneor two hours.

Once the polyamide having carboxylic acid end groups has been prepared,the polyether, the polyol and a catalyst are then added. The totalamount of polyether can be divided and added in one or more portions, ascan the catalyst. In an aspect, the polyether is added first and thereaction of the OH end groups of the polyether and of the polyol withthe COOH end groups of the polyamide starts, with the formation of esterlinkages and the elimination of water. Water is removed as much aspossible from the reaction mixture by distillation and then the catalystis introduced in order to complete the linking of the polyamide blocksto the polyether blocks. This second step takes place with stirring,preferably under a vacuum of at least 50 mbar (5000 Pa) at a temperaturesuch that the reactants and the copolymers obtained are in the moltenstate. By way of example, this temperature can be between 100 and 400°C. and usually between 200 and 250° C. The reaction is monitored bymeasuring the torque exerted by the polymer melt on the stirrer or bymeasuring the electric power consumed by the stirrer. The end of thereaction is determined by the value of the torque or of the targetpower. The catalyst is defined as being any product which promotes thelinking of the polyamide blocks to the polyether blocks byesterification. Advantageously, the catalyst is a derivative of a metal(M) chosen from the group formed by titanium, zirconium and hafnium. Inan aspect, the derivative can be prepared from a tetraalkoxidesconsistent with the general formula M(OR)₄, in which M representstitanium, zirconium or hafnium and R, which can be identical ordifferent, represents linear or branched alkyl radicals having from 1 to24 carbon atoms.

In a further aspect, the catalyst can comprise a salt of the metal (M),particularly the salt of (M) and of an organic acid and the complexsalts of the oxide of (M) and/or the hydroxide of (M) and an organicacid. In a still further aspect, the organic acid can be formic acid,acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, valeric acid, caproic acid,caprylic acid, lauric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid,oleic acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, cyclohexanecarboxylic acid,phenylacetic acid, benzoic acid, salicylic acid, oxalic acid, malonicacid, succinic acid, glutaric acid, adipic acid, maleic acid, fumaricacid, phthalic acid and crotonic acid. Acetic and propionic acids areparticularly preferred. In some aspects, M is zirconium and such saltsare called zirconyl salts, e.g., the commercially available product soldunder the name zirconyl acetate.

In an aspect, the weight proportion of catalyst varies from about 0.01to about 5% of the weight of the mixture of the dicarboxylic polyamidewith the polyetherdiol and the polyol. In a further aspect, the weightproportion of catalyst varies from about 0.05 to about 2% of the weightof the mixture of the dicarboxylic polyamide with the polyetherdiol andthe polyol.

In the one-step process, the polyamide precursors, the chain stopper andthe polyether are blended together; what is then obtained is a polymerhaving essentially polyether blocks and polyamide blocks of veryvariable length, but also the various reactants that have reactedrandomly, which are distributed randomly along the polymer chain. Theyare the same reactants and the same catalyst as in the two-step processdescribed above. If the polyamide precursors are only lactams, it isadvantageous to add a little water. The copolymer has essentially thesame polyether blocks and the same polyamide blocks, but also a smallportion of the various reactants that have reacted randomly, which aredistributed randomly along the polymer chain. As in the first step ofthe two-step process described above, the reactor is closed and heated,with stirring. The pressure established is between 5 and 30 bar. Whenthe pressure no longer changes, the reactor is put under reducedpressure while still maintaining vigorous stirring of the moltenreactants. The reaction is monitored as previously in the case of thetwo-step process.

The proper ratio of polyamide to polyether blocks can be found in asingle poly(ether block amide), or a blend of two or more differentcomposition poly(ether block amide)s can be used with the proper averagecomposition. In one aspect, it can be useful to blend a block copolymerhaving a high level of polyamide groups with a block copolymer having ahigher level of polyether blocks, to produce a blend having an averagelevel of polyether blocks of about 20 to 40 wt % of the total blend ofpoly(amid-block-ether) copolymers, and preferably about 30 to 35 wt %.In a further aspect, the copolymer comprises a blend of two differentpoly(ether-block-amide)s comprising at least one block copolymer havinga level of polyether blocks below about 35 wt %, and a secondpoly(ether-block-amide) having at least about 45 wt % of polyetherblocks.

In various aspects, the thermoplastic polymer is a polyamide or apoly(ether-block-amide) with a melting temperature (T_(m)) from about90° C. to about 120° C. when determined in accordance with AS T_(m)D3418-97 as described herein below. In a further aspect, thethermoplastic polymer is a polyamide or a poly(ether-block-amide) with amelting temperature (T_(m)) from about 93° C. to about 99° C. whendetermined in accordance with AS T_(m) D3418-97 as described hereinbelow. In a still further aspect, the thermoplastic polymer is apolyamide or a poly(ether-block-amide) with a melting temperature(T_(m)) from about 112° C. to about 118° C. when determined inaccordance with AS T_(m) D3418-97 as described herein below. In someaspects, the thermoplastic polymer is a polyamide or apoly(ether-block-amide) with a melting temperature of about 90° C.,about 91° C., about 92° C., about 93° C., about 94° C., about 95° C.,about 96° C., about 97° C., about 98° C., about 99° C., about 100° C.,about 101° C., about 102° C., about 103° C., about 104° C., about 105°C., about 106° C., about 107° C., about 108° C., about 109° C., about110° C., about 111° C., about 112° C., about 113° C., about 114° C.,about 115° C., about 116° C., about 117° C., about 118° C., about 119°C., about 120° C., any range of melting temperature (T_(m)) valuesencompassed by any of the foregoing values, or any combination of theforegoing melting temperature (T_(m)) values, when determined inaccordance with AS T_(m) D3418-97 as described herein below.

In various aspects, the thermoplastic polymer is a polyamide or apoly(ether-block-amide) with a glass transition temperature (T_(g)) fromabout −20° C. to about 30° C. when determined in accordance with AST_(m) D3418-97 as described herein below. In a further aspect, thethermoplastic polymer is a polyamide or a poly(ether-block-amide) with aglass transition temperature (T_(g)) from about −13° C. to about −7° C.when determined in accordance with AS T_(m) D3418-97 as described hereinbelow. In a still further aspect, the thermoplastic polymer is apolyamide or a poly(ether-block-amide) with a glass transitiontemperature (T_(g)) from about 17° C. to about 23° C. when determined inaccordance with AS T_(m) D3418-97 as described herein below. In someaspects, the thermoplastic polymer is a polyamide or apoly(ether-block-amide) with a glass transition temperature (T_(g)) ofabout −20° C., about −19° C., about −18° C., about −17° C., about −16°C., about −15° C., about −14° C., about −13° C., about −12° C., about−10° C., about −9° C., about −8° C., about −7° C., about −6° C., about−5° C., about −4° C., about −3° C., about −2° C., about −1° C., about 0°C., about 1° C., about 2° C., about 3° C., about 4° C., about 5° C.,about 6° C., about 7° C., about 8° C., about 9° C., about 10° C., about11° C., about 12° C., about 13° C., about 14° C., about 15° C., about16° C., about 17° C., about 18° C., about 19° C., about 20° C., anyrange of glass transition temperature values encompassed by any of theforegoing values, or any combination of the foregoing glass transitiontemperature values, when determined in accordance with AS T_(m) D3418-97as described herein below.

In various aspects, the thermoplastic polymer is a polyamide or apoly(ether-block-amide) with a melt flow index from about 10 cm³/10 minto about 30 cm³/10 min when tested in accordance with AS T_(m) D1238-13as described herein below at 160° C. using a weight of 2.16 kg. In afurther aspect, the thermoplastic polymer is a polyamide or apoly(ether-block-amide) with a melt flow index from about 22 cm³/10 minto about 28 cm³/10 min when tested in accordance with AS T_(m) D1238-13as described herein below at 160° C. using a weight of 2.16 kg. In someaspects, the thermoplastic polymer is a polyamide or apoly(ether-block-amide) with a melt flow index of about 10 cm³/10 min,about 11 cm³/10 min, about 12 cm³/10 min, about 13 cm³/10 min, about 14cm³/10 min, about 15 cm³/10 min, about 16 cm³/10 min, about 17 cm³/10min, of about 18 cm³/10 min, about 19 cm³/10 min, of about 20 cm³/10min, about 21 cm³/10 min, about 22 cm³/10 min, about 23 cm³/10 min,about 24 cm³/10 min, about 25 cm³/10 min, about 26 cm³/10 min, about 27cm³/10 min, of about 28 cm³/10 min, about 29 cm³/10 min, of about 30cm³/10 min, any range of melt flow index values encompassed by any ofthe foregoing values, or any combination of the foregoing melt flowindex values, when determined in accordance with AS T_(m) D1238-13 asdescribed herein below at 160° C. using a weight of 2.16 kg.

In various aspects, the thermoplastic polymer is a polyamide or apoly(ether-block-amide) with a cold Ross flex test result of about120,000 to about 180,000 when tested on a thermoformed plaque of thepolyamide or the poly(ether-block-amide) in accordance with the coldRoss flex test as described herein below. In a further aspect, thethermoplastic polymer is a polyamide or a poly(ether-block-amide) with acold Ross flex test result of about 140,000 to about 160,000 when testedon a thermoformed plaque of the polyamide or the poly(ether-block-amide)in accordance with the cold Ross flex test as described herein below. Ina still further aspect, the thermoplastic polymer is a polyamide or apoly(ether-block-amide) with a cold Ross flex test result of about130,000 to about 170,000 when tested on a thermoformed plaque of thepolyamide or the poly(ether-block-amide) in accordance with the coldRoss flex test as described herein below. In some aspects, thethermoplastic polymer is a polyamide or a poly(ether-block-amide) with acold Ross flex test result of about 120,000, about 125,000, about130,000, about 135,000, about 140,000, about 145,000, about 150,000,about 155,000, about 160,000, about 165,000, about 170,000, about175,000, about 180,000, any range of cold Ross flex test valuesencompassed by any of the foregoing values, or any combination of theforegoing cold Ross flex test values, when tested on a thermoformedplaque of the polyamide or the poly(ether-block-amide) in accordancewith the cold Ross flex test as described herein below.

In various aspects, the thermoplastic polymer is a polyamide or apoly(ether-block-amide) with a modulus from about 5 MPa to about 100 MPawhen determined on a thermoformed plaque in accordance with AS T_(m)D412-98 Standard Test Methods for Vulcanized Rubber and ThermoplasticRubbers and Thermoplastic Elastomers-Tension with modificationsdescribed herein below. In a further aspect, the thermoplastic polymeris a polyamide or a poly(ether-block-amide) with a modulus from about 20MPa to about 80 MPa when determined on a thermoformed plaque inaccordance with AS T_(m) D412-98 Standard Test Methods for VulcanizedRubber and Thermoplastic Rubbers and Thermoplastic Elastomers-Tensionwith modifications described herein below. In some aspects, thethermoplastic polymer is a polyamide or a poly(ether-block-amide) with amodulus of about 5 MPa, about 10 MPa, about 15 MPa, about 20 MPa, about25 MPa, about 30 MPa, about 35 MPa, about 40 MPa, about 45 MPa, about 50MPa, about 55 MPa, about 60 MPa, about 65 MPa, about 70 MPa, about 75MPa, about 80 MPa, about 85 MPa, about 90 MPa, about 95 MPa, about 100MPa, any range of modulus values encompassed by any of the foregoingvalues, or any combination of the foregoing modulus values, when testedon a thermoformed plaque of the polyamide or the poly(ether-block-amide)in accordance with AS T_(m) D412-98 Standard Test Methods for VulcanizedRubber and Thermoplastic Rubbers and Thermoplastic Elastomers-Tensionwith modifications described herein below.

In various aspects, the thermoplastic polymer is a polyamide or apoly(ether-block-amide) with a melting temperature (T_(m)) of about 115°C. when determined in accordance with AS T_(m) D3418-97 as describedherein below; a glass transition temperature (T_(g)) of about −10° C.when determined in accordance with AS T_(m) D3418-97 as described hereinbelow; a melt flow index of about 25 cm³/10 min when tested inaccordance with AS T_(m) D1238-13 as described herein below at 160° C.using a weight of 2.16 kg; a cold Ross flex test result of about 150,000when tested on a thermoformed plaque in accordance with the cold Rossflex test as described herein below; and a modulus from about 25 MPa toabout 70 MPa when determined on a thermoformed plaque in accordance withAS T_(m) D412-98 Standard Test Methods for Vulcanized Rubber andThermoplastic Rubbers and Thermoplastic Elastomers-Tension withmodifications described herein below.

In various aspects, the thermoplastic polymer is a polyamide or apoly(ether-block-amide) with a melting temperature (T_(m)) of about 96°C. when determined in accordance with AS T_(m) D3418-97 as describedherein below; a glass transition temperature (T_(g)) of about 20° C.when determined in accordance with AS T_(m) D3418-97 as described hereinbelow; a cold Ross flex test result of about 150,000 when tested on athermoformed plaque in accordance with the cold Ross flex test asdescribed herein below; and a modulus of less than or equal to about 10MPa a when determined on a thermoformed plaque in accordance with AST_(m) D412-98 Standard Test Methods for Vulcanized Rubber andThermoplastic Rubbers and Thermoplastic Elastomers-Tension withmodifications described herein below.

In various aspects, the thermoplastic polymer is a polyamide or apoly(ether-block-amide) is a mixture of a first polyamide or apoly(ether-block-amide) with a melting temperature (T_(m)) of about 115°C. when determined in accordance with AS T_(m) D3418-97 as describedherein below; a glass transition temperature (T_(g)) of about −10° C.when determined in accordance with AS T_(m) D3418-97 as described hereinbelow; a melt flow index of about 25 cm³/10 min when tested inaccordance with AS T_(m) D1238-13 as described herein below at 160° C.using a weight of 2.16 kg; a cold Ross flex test result of about 150,000when tested on a thermoformed plaque in accordance with the cold Rossflex test as described herein below; and a modulus from about 25 MPa toabout 70 MPa when determined on a thermoformed plaque in accordance withAS T_(m) D412-98 Standard Test Methods for Vulcanized Rubber andThermoplastic Rubbers and Thermoplastic Elastomers-Tension withmodifications described herein below; and a second polyamide or apoly(ether-block-amide) with a melting temperature (T_(m)) of about 96°C. when determined in accordance with AS T_(m) D3418-97 as describedherein below; a glass transition temperature (T_(g)) of about 20° C.when determined in accordance with AS T_(m) D3418-97 as described hereinbelow; a cold Ross flex test result of about 150,000 when tested on athermoformed plaque in accordance with the cold Ross flex test asdescribed herein below; and a modulus of less than or equal to about 10MPa a when determined on a thermoformed plaque in accordance with AST_(m) D412-98 Standard Test Methods for Vulcanized Rubber andThermoplastic Rubbers and Thermoplastic Elastomers-Tension withmodifications described herein below.

Exemplary commercially available copolymers include, but are not limitedto, those available under the tradenames of VESTAMID® (EvonikIndustries); PLATAMID® (Arkema), e.g., product code H₂₆₉₄; PEBAX®(Arkema), e.g., product code “PEBAX MH1657” and “PEBAX MV1074”; PEBAX®RNEW (Arkema); GRILAMID® (EMS-Chemie AG), or also to other similarmaterials produced by various other suppliers.

In some examples, the thermoplastic polyamide is physically crosslinkedthrough, e.g., nonpolar or polar interactions between the polyamidegroups of the polymers. In examples where the thermoplastic polyamide isa thermoplastic copolyamide, the thermoplastic copolyamide can bephysically crosslinked through interactions between the polyamidegroups, an optionally by interactions between the copolymer groups. Whenthe thermoplastic copolyamide is physically crosslinked thoroughinteractions between the polyamide groups, the polyamide segments canform the portion of the polymer referred to as the “hard segment”, andcopolymer segments can form the portion of the polymer referred to asthe “soft segment”. For example, when the thermoplastic copolyamide is athermoplastic poly(ether-block-amide), the polyamide segments form thehard segment portion of the polymer, and polyether segments can form thesoft segment portion of the polymer. Therefore, in some examples, thethermoplastic polymer can include a physically crosslinked polymericnetwork having one or more polymer chains with amide linkages.

In some aspects, the polyamide segment of the thermoplastic co-polyamideincludes polyamide-11 or polyamide-12 and the polyether segment is asegment selected from the group consisting of polyethylene oxide,polypropylene oxide, and polytetramethylene oxide segments, andcombinations thereof.

Optionally, the thermoplastic polyamide can be partially covalentlycrosslinked, as previously described herein. In such cases, it is to beunderstood that the degree of crosslinking present in the thermoplasticpolyamide is such that, when it is thermally processed in the form of ayarn or fiber to form the articles of footwear of the presentdisclosure, the partially covalently crosslinked thermoplastic polyamideretains sufficient thermoplastic character that the partially covalentlycrosslinked thermoplastic polyamide is softened or melted during theprocessing and re-solidifies.

Thermoplastic Polyesters

In aspects, the thermoplastic polymers can comprise a thermoplasticpolyester. The thermoplastic polyester can be formed by reaction of oneor more carboxylic acids, or its ester-forming derivatives, with one ormore bivalent or multivalent aliphatic, alicyclic, aromatic oraraliphatic alcohols or a bisphenol. The thermoplastic polyester can bea polyester homopolymer having repeating polyester segments of the samechemical structure. Alternatively, the polyester can comprise a numberof polyester segments having different polyester chemical structures(e.g., polyglycolic acid segments, polylactic acid segments,polycaprolactone segments, polyhydroxyalkanoate segments,polyhydroxybutyrate segments, etc.). The polyester segments havingdifferent chemical structure can be arranged randomly, or can bearranged as repeating blocks.

Exemplary carboxylic acids that that can be used to prepare athermoplastic polyester include, but are not limited to, adipic acid,pimelic acid, suberic acid, azelaic acid, sebacic acid, nonanedicarboxylic acid, decane dicarboxylic acid, undecane dicarboxylic acid,terephthalic acid, isophthalic acid, alkyl-substituted or halogenatedterephthalic acid, alkyl-substituted or halogenated isophthalic acid,nitro-terephthalic acid, 4,4′-diphenyl ether dicarboxylic acid,4,4′-diphenyl thioether dicarboxylic acid, 4,4′-diphenylsulfone-dicarboxylic acid, 4,4′-diphenyl alkylenedicarboxylic acid,naphthalene-2,6-dicarboxylic acid, cyclohexane-1,4-dicarboxylic acid andcyclohexane-1,3-dicarboxylic acid. Exemplary diols or phenols suitablefor the preparation of the thermoplastic polyester include, but are notlimited to, ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, 1,3-propanediol,1,4-butanediol, 1,6-hexanediol, 1,8-octanediol, 1,10-decanediol,1,2-propanediol, 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-propanediol,2,2,4-trimethylhexanediol, p-xylenediol, 1,4-cyclohexanediol,1,4-cyclohexane dimethanol, and bis-phenol A.

In some aspects, the thermoplastic polyester is a polybutyleneterephthalate (PBT), a polytrimethylene terephthalate, apolyhexamethylene terephthalate, a poly-1,4-dimethylcyclohexaneterephthalate, a polyethylene terephthalate (PET), a polyethyleneisophthalate (PEI), a polyarylate (PAR), a polybutylene naphthalate(PBN), a liquid crystal polyester, or a blend or mixture of two or moreof the foregoing.

The thermoplastic polyester can be a co-polyester (i.e., a co-polymerincluding polyester segments and non-polyester segments). Theco-polyester can be an aliphatic co-polyester (i.e., a co-polyester inwhich both the polyester segments and the non-polyester segments arealiphatic). Alternatively, the co-polyester can include aromaticsegments. The polyester segments of the co-polyester can comprise orconsist of polyglycolic acid segments, polylactic acid segments,polycaprolactone segments, polyhydroxyalkanoate segments,polyhydroxybutyrate segments, or any combination thereof. The polyestersegments of the co-polyester can be arranged randomly, or can bearranged as repeating blocks.

For example, the thermoplastic polyester can be a block co-polyesterhaving repeating blocks of polymeric units of the same chemicalstructure (segments) which are relatively harder (hard segments), andrepeating blocks of polymeric segments which are relatively softer (softsegments). In block co-polyesters, including block co-polyesters havingrepeating hard segments and soft segments, physical crosslinks can bepresent within the blocks or between the blocks or both within andbetween the blocks. In a particular example, the thermoplastic materialcan comprise or consist essentially of an elastomeric thermoplasticco-polyester having repeating blocks of hard segments and repeatingblocks of soft segments.

The non-polyester segments of the co-polyester can comprise or consistof polyether segments, polyamide segments, or both polyether segmentsand polyamide segments. The co-polyester can be a block co-polyester, orcan be a random co-polyester. The thermoplastic co-polyester can beformed from the polycodensation of a polyester oligomer or prepolymerwith a second oligomer prepolymer to form a block copolyester.Optionally, the second prepolymer can be a hydrophilic prepolymer. Forexample, the co-polyester can be formed from the polycondensation ofterephthalic acid or naphthalene dicarboxylic acid with ethylene glycol,1,4-butanediol, or 1-3 propanediol. Examples of co-polyesters includepolyethelene adipate, polybutylene succinate,poly(3-hydroxbutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate), polyethylene terephthalate,polybutylene terephthalate, polytrimethylene terephthalate, polyethylenenapthalate, and combinations thereof. In a particular example, theco-polyamide can comprise or consist of polyethylene terephthalate.

In some aspects, the thermoplastic polyester is a block copolymercomprising segments of one or more of polybutylene terephthalate (PBT),a polytrimethylene terephthalate, a polyhexamethylene terephthalate, apoly-1,4-dimethylcyclohexane terephthalate, a polyethylene terephthalate(PET), a polyethylene isophthalate (PEI), a polyarylate (PAR), apolybutylene naphthalate (PBN), and a liquid crystal polyester. Forexample, a suitable thermoplastic polyester that is a block copolymercan be a PET/PEI copolymer, a polybutylene terephthalate/tetraethyleneglycol copolymer, a polyoxyalkylenediimide diacid/polybutyleneterephthalate copolymer, or a blend or mixture of any of the foregoing.

In some aspects, the thermoplastic polyester is a biodegradable resin,for example, a copolymerized polyester in which poly(α-hydroxy acid)such as polyglycolic acid or polylactic acid is contained as principalrepeating units.

The disclosed thermoplastic polyesters can be prepared by a variety ofpolycondensation methods known to the skilled artisan, such as a solventpolymerization or a melt polymerization process.

Thermoplastic Polyolefins

In some aspects, the thermoplastic polymers can comprise or consistessentially of a thermoplastic polyolefin. Exemplary of thermoplasticpolyolefins useful can include, but are not limited to, polyethylene,polypropylene, and thermoplastic olefin elastomers (e.g.,metallocene-catalyzed block copolymers of ethylene and α-olefins having4 to about 8 carbon atoms). In a further aspect, the thermoplasticpolyolefin is a polymer comprising a polyethylene, an ethylene-α-olefincopolymer, an ethylene-propylene rubber (EPDM), a polybutene, apolyisobutylene, a poly-4-methylpent-1-ene, a polyisoprene, apolybutadiene, a ethylene-methacrylic acid copolymer, and an olefinelastomer such as a dynamically cross-linked polymer obtained frompolypropylene (PP) and an ethylene-propylene rubber (EPDM), and blendsor mixtures of the foregoing. Further exemplary thermoplasticpolyolefins useful in the disclosed compositions, yarns, and fibers arepolymers of cycloolefins such as cyclopentene or norbornene.

It is to be understood that polyethylene, which optionally can becrosslinked, is inclusive a variety of polyethylenes, including, but notlimited to, low density polyethylene (LDPE), linear low densitypolyethylene (LLDPE), (VLDPE) and (ULDPE), medium density polyethylene(MDPE), high density polyethylene (HDPE), high density and highmolecular weight polyethylene (HDPE-HMW), high density and ultrahighmolecular weight polyethylene (HDPE-UHMVV), and blends or mixtures ofany the foregoing polyethylenes. A polyethylene can also be apolyethylene copolymer derived from monomers of monolefins and diolefinscopolymerized with a vinyl, acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, ethylacrylate, vinyl alcohol, and/or vinyl acetate. Polyolefin copolymerscomprising vinyl acetate-derived units can be a high vinyl acetatecontent copolymer, e.g., greater than about 50 wt % vinylacetate-derived composition.

In some aspects, the thermoplastic polyolefin, as disclosed herein, canbe formed through free radical, cationic, and/or anionic polymerizationby methods well known to those skilled in the art (e.g., using aperoxide initiator, heat, and/or light). In a further aspect, thedisclosed thermoplastic polyolefin can be prepared by radicalpolymerization under high pressure and at elevated temperature.Alternatively, the thermoplastic polyolefin can be prepared by catalyticpolymerization using a catalyst that normally contains one or moremetals from group IVb, Vb, VIb or VIII metals. The catalyst usually hasone or more than one ligand, typically oxides, halides, alcoholates,esters, ethers, amines, alkyls, alkenyls and/or aryls that can be eitherp- or s-coordinated complexed with the group IVb, Vb, VIb or VIII metal.In various aspects, the metal complexes can be in the free form or fixedon substrates, typically on activated magnesium chloride, titanium(III)chloride, alumina or silicon oxide. It is understood that the metalcatalysts can be soluble or insoluble in the polymerization medium. Thecatalysts can be used by themselves in the polymerization or furtheractivators can be used, typically a group Ia, IIa and/or IIIa metalalkyls, metal hydrides, metal alkyl halides, metal alkyl oxides or metalalkyloxanes. The activators can be modified conveniently with furtherester, ether, amine or silyl ether groups.

Suitable thermoplastic polyolefins can be prepared by polymerization ofmonomers of monolefins and diolefins as described herein. Exemplarymonomers that can be used to prepare disclosed thermoplastic polyolefininclude, but are not limited to, ethylene, propylene, 1-butene,1-pentene, 1-hexene, 2-methyl-1-propene, 3-methyl-1-pentene,4-methyl-1-pentene, 5-methyl-1-hexene and mixtures thereof.

Suitable ethylene-α-olefin copolymers can be obtained bycopolymerization of ethylene with an α-olefin such as propylene,butene-1, hexene-1, octene-1,4-methyl-1-pentene or the like havingcarbon numbers of 3 to 12.

Suitable dynamically cross-linked polymers can be obtained bycross-linking a rubber component as a soft segment while at the sametime physically dispersing a hard segment such as PP and a soft segmentsuch as EPDM by using a kneading machine such as a Banbbury mixer and abiaxial extruder.

In some aspects, the thermoplastic polyolefin can be a mixture ofthermoplastic polyolefins, such as a mixture of two or more polyolefinsdisclosed herein above. For example, a suitable mixture of thermoplasticpolyolefins can be a mixture of polypropylene with polyisobutylene,polypropylene with polyethylene (for example PP/HDPE, PP/LDPE) ormixtures of different types of polyethylene (for example LDPE/HDPE).

In some aspects, the thermoplastic polyolefin can be a copolymer ofsuitable monolefin monomers or a copolymer of a suitable monolefinmonomer and a vinyl monomer. Exemplary thermoplastic polyolefincopolymers include, but are not limited to, ethylene/propylenecopolymers, linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) and mixtures thereofwith low density polyethylene (LDPE), propylene/but-1-ene copolymers,propylene/isobutylene copolymers, ethylene/but-1-ene copolymers,ethylene/hexene copolymers, ethylene/methylpentene copolymers,ethylene/heptene copolymers, ethylene/octene copolymers,propylene/butadiene copolymers, isobutylene/isoprene copolymers,ethylene/alkyl acrylate copolymers, ethylene/alkyl methacrylatecopolymers, ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymers and their copolymers withcarbon monoxide or ethylene/acrylic acid copolymers and their salts(ionomers) as well as terpolymers of ethylene with propylene and a dienesuch as hexadiene, dicyclopentadiene or ethylidene-norbornene; andmixtures of such copolymers with one another and with polymers mentionedin 1) above, for example polypropylene/ethylene-propylene copolymers,LDPE/ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers (EVA), LDPE/ethylene-acrylic acidcopolymers (EAA), LLDPE/EVA, LLDPE/EAA and alternating or randompolyalkylene/carbon monoxide copolymers and mixtures thereof with otherpolymers, for example polyamides.

In some aspects, the thermoplastic polyolefin can be a polypropylenehomopolymer, a polypropylene copolymers, a polypropylene randomcopolymer, a polypropylene block copolymer, a polyethylene homopolymer,a polyethylene random copolymer, a polyethylene block copolymer, a lowdensity polyethylene (LDPE), a linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE),a medium density polyethylene, a high density polyethylene (HDPE), orblends or mixtures of one or more of the preceding polymers.

In some aspects, the polyolefin is a polypropylene. The term“polypropylene,” as used herein, is intended to encompass any polymericcomposition comprising propylene monomers, either alone or in mixture orcopolymer with other randomly selected and oriented polyolefins, dienes,or other monomers (such as ethylene, butylene, and the like). Such aterm also encompasses any different configuration and arrangement of theconstituent monomers (such as atactic, syndiotactic, isotactic, and thelike). Thus, the term as applied to fibers is intended to encompassactual long strands, tapes, threads, and the like, of drawn polymer. Thepolypropylene can be of any standard melt flow (by testing); however,standard fiber grade polypropylene resins possess ranges of Melt FlowIndices between about 1 and 1000.

In some aspects, the polyolefin is a polyethylene. The term“polyethylene,” as used herein, is intended to encompass any polymericcomposition comprising ethylene monomers, either alone or in mixture orcopolymer with other randomly selected and oriented polyolefins, dienes,or other monomers (such as propylene, butylene, and the like). Such aterm also encompasses any different configuration and arrangement of theconstituent monomers (such as atactic, syndiotactic, isotactic, and thelike). Thus, the term as applied to fibers is intended to encompassactual long strands, tapes, threads, and the like, of drawn polymer. Thepolyethylene can be of any standard melt flow (by testing); however,standard fiber grade polyethylene resins possess ranges of Melt FlowIndices between about 1 and 1000.

Methods of Making Resin Compositions

In various aspects, this disclosure also provides a method for making aresin composition, the method including blending a polypropylenecopolymer and an effective amount of a polymeric resin modifier, whereinthe effective amount of the polymeric resin modifier is effective toallow the resin composition to pass a flex test pursuant to the ColdRoss Flex Test using the Plaque Sampling Procedure.

A method is provided for making a resin composition, the methodincluding blending a polypropylene copolymer and an effective amount ofa polymeric resin modifier, wherein the effective amount of thepolymeric resin modifier is effective to allow the resin composition topass a flex test pursuant to the Cold Ross Flex Test using the PlaqueSampling Procedure without a significant change in abrasion loss whenmeasured pursuant to ASTM D 5963-97a using the Material SamplingProcedure.

The resin compositions provided herein can be made by blending aneffective amount of a polymeric resin modifier and a polyolefincopolymer to form a blended resin composition, wherein the effectiveamount is as described above. Methods of blending polymers can includefilm blending in a press, blending in a mixer (e.g. mixers commerciallyavailable under the tradename “HAAKE” from Thermo Fisher Scientific,Waltham, Mass.), solution blending, hot melt blending, and extruderblending. In some aspects, the polymeric resin modifier and polyolefincopolymer are miscible such that they can be readily mixed by the screwin the injection barrel during injection molding, e.g. without the needfor a separate blending step.

The resin compositions provided herein can be made by blending aneffective amount of an isotactic polyolefin copolymer resin modifier,wherein the effective amount is an amount effective to allow the resincomposition to pass a flex test pursuant to the Cold Ross Flex Testusing the Plaque Sampling Procedure, where a second resin compositionidentical to the resin composition except without the isotacticpolyolefin copolymer resin modifier fails the flex test pursuant to theCold Ross Flex Test using the Plaque Sampling Procedure. The effectiveamount can be an amount effective to maintain an abrasion loss of theresin composition within about 20% of an abrasion loss of the secondresin composition as measured pursuant to ASTM D 5963-97a using theMaterial Sampling Procedure. The effective amount can be the effectiveamount of the isotactic polyolefin copolymer resin modifier is an amounteffective to decrease a % crystallization of the resin composition by atleast 4 percentage points as compared to a % crystallization of thesecond resin composition when measured according to the DifferentialScanning Calorimeter (DSC) Test using the Material Sampling Procedure.

The methods can further include extruding the blended resin compositionto form an extruded resin composition. The methods of extruding theblended resin can include manufacturing long products of relativelyconstant cross-section (rods, sheets, pipes, films, wire insulationcoating). The methods of extruding the blended resin can includeconveying a softened blended resin composition through a die with anopening. The blended resin can be conveyed forward by a feeding screwand forced through the die. Heating elements, placed over the barrel,can soften and melt the blended resin. The temperature of the materialcan be controlled by thermocouples. The product going out of the die canbe cooled by blown air or in a water bath to form the extruded resincomposition. Alternatively, the product going out of the die can bepelletized with little cooling as described below.

The method can further include pelletizing the extruded resincomposition to form a pelletized resin composition. Methods ofpelletizing can include melt pelletizing (hot cut) whereby the meltcoming from a die is almost immediately cut into pellets that areconveyed and cooled by liquid or gas. Methods of pelletizing can includestrand pelletizing (cold cut) whereby the melt coming from the die headis converted into strands (the extruded resin composition) that are cutinto pellets after cooling and solidification.

The method can further include injection molding the pelletized resincomposition to form an article. The injection molding can include theuse of a non-rotating, cold plunger to force the pelletized resinthrough a heated cylinder wherein the resin composition is heated byheat conducted from the walls of the cylinder to the resin composition.The injection molding can include the use of a rotating screw, disposedco-axially of a heated barrel, for conveying the pelletized resincomposition toward a first end of the screw and to heat the resincomposition by the conduction of heat from the heated barrel to theresin composition. As the resin composition is conveyed by the screwmechanism toward the first end, the screw is translated toward thesecond end so as to produce a reservoir space at the first end. Whensufficient melted resin composition is collected in the reservoir space,the screw mechanism can be pushed toward the first end so as to injectthe material into a selected mold.

Methods of Making Components and Articles

The disclosure provides several methods for making components andarticles described herein. The methods can include injection molding aresin composition described herein. The disclosure provides methods formanufacturing a component for an article of footwear or sportingequipment, by injection molding a resin composition described herein.

The methods can further include providing a component containing a resincomposition, and providing a second element, and affixing the componentto the second element. The second element can include a textile ormultilayer film. For example, the second element can include an upper.The second element can include one or both of polyolefin fibers andpolyolefin yarns.

In some aspects, polyolefin is present on a side or outer layer of thesecond element, and the method includes affixing the polyolefinstogether. The second element can include a yarn, a textile, a film, orsome other element. Affixing the component to the second element caninclude directly injecting the resin composition onto the secondelement. Affixing the component to the second element can includeforming a mechanical bond between the resin composition and the secondelement. Affixing the component to the second element can include (i)increasing a temperature of the resin composition to a first temperatureabove a melting or softening point of the resin composition, (ii)contacting the resin composition and the second element while the resincomposition is at the first temperature, and (iii) keeping the resincomposition and the second element in contact with each other whiledecreasing the temperature of the resin composition to a secondtemperature below the melting or softening point of the resincomposition, forming a mechanical bond between the resin composition andthe second element.

The second element can be a thermoplastic polymeric material, andaffixing the component to the second element can include (i) increasinga temperature of the thermoplastic polymeric material to a firsttemperature above a melting or softening point of the thermoplasticpolymeric material, (ii) contacting the resin composition and the secondelement while the thermoplastic polymeric material is at the firsttemperature, and (iii) keeping the resin composition and the secondelement in contact with each other while decreasing the temperature ofthe thermoplastic polymeric material to a second temperature below themelting or softening point of the thermoplastic polymeric material,forming a mechanical bond between the resin composition and the secondelement.

The second element can include a thermoplastic polymeric material, andaffixing the component to the second element can include (i) increasinga temperature of both the resin composition and the thermoplasticpolymeric material to a first temperature above both a melting orsoftening point of the resin composition and a melting or softeningpoint of the thermoplastic polymeric material, (ii) contacting the resincomposition and the second element while both the resin composition andthe thermoplastic polymeric material are at the first temperature, and(iii) keeping the resin composition and the second element in contactwith each other while decreasing the temperature of both the resincomposition and the thermoplastic polymeric material to a secondtemperature below both the melting or softening point of the resincomposition and the melting or softening point of the thermoplasticpolymeric material, melding at least a portion of the resin material andthe thermoplastic polymeric material with each other, thereby forming amechanical bond between the resin composition and the second element.

In some aspects, the article is an article of footwear and the methodincluded injection molding a plate described herein. The method caninclude providing the plate, providing an upper, and affixing the plateand the upper.

Property Analysis And Characterization Procedure

Cold Ross Flex Test

The cold Ross flex test is determined according the following testmethod. The purpose of this test is to evaluate the resistance tocracking of a sample under repeated flexing to 60 degrees in a coldenvironment. A thermoformed plaque of the material for testing is sizedto fit inside the flex tester machine. Each material is tested as fiveseparate samples. The flex tester machine is capable of flexing samplesto 60 degrees at a rate of 100+/−5 cycles per minute. The mandreldiameter of the machine is 10 millimeters. Suitable machines for thistest are the Emerson AR-6, the Satra S T_(m) 141F, the Gotech GT-7006,and the Shin II Scientific SI-LTCO (DaeSung Scientific). The sample(s)are inserted into the machine according to the specific parameters ofthe flex machine used. The machine is placed in a freezer set to −6° C.for the test. The motor is turned on to begin flexing with the flexingcycles counted until the sample cracks. Cracking of the sample meansthat the surface of the material is physically split. Visible creases oflines that do not actually penetrate the surface are not cracks. Thesample is measured to a point where it has cracked but not yet broken intwo.

Abrasion Loss Test ASTM D 5963-97a

Abrasion loss is tested on cylindrical test pieces with a diameter of16±0.2 mm and a minimum thickness of 6 mm cut from sheets using a ASTMstandard hole drill. The abrasion loss is measured using Method B ofASTM D 5963-97a on a Gotech GT-7012-D abrasion test machine. The testsare performed as 22° C. with an abrasion path of 40 meters. The StandardRubber #1 used in the tests has a density of 1.336 grams per cubiccentimeter (g/cm³). The smaller the abrasion loss volume, the better theabrasion resistance.

Mud Pull Off Testing Method

A two-inch diameter material sample is cut and affixed to the top plateof a set of parallel, flat aluminum test plates on a standard mechanicaltesting machine (e.g. Instron tensile testing equipment.) A 1-inchdiameter mud sample, approximately 7 millimeter in height is loaded ontothe bottom plate of the mechanical tester. The soil used to make the mudis commercially available under the tradename “TIMBERLINE TOP SOIL”,model 50051562, from Timberline (subsidiary of Old Castle, Inc.,Atlanta, Ga.) and was sifted with a square mesh with a pore dimension of1.5 millimeter on each side. The mud was previously dried and thendiluted to water to 22% water by weight. The force transducers arenormalized to zero force. The plates are then pressed together to a loadof 445 Newtons in the compressive direction. The load is thenimmediately removed and a small force hysteresis is measured at the muddetachment point that is greater than the tared value of zero in thetensile direction. The maximum force measured is the pull off force forthe mud adhesion to the material substrate. The compression/detachmentcycle is repeated at least 10 times until a stable value is obtained.

Differential Scanning Calorimeter (DSC) Test

To determine percent crystallinity of a resin composition including acopolymer and a polymeric resin modifier, samples of the copolymer, theresin composition, and of a homopolymer of the main component of thecopolymer (e.g., polypropylene homopolymer polypropylene) are allanalyzed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) over the temperaturerange from −80° C. to 250° C. A heating rate of 10° C. per minute isused. The melting endotherm is measured for each sample during heating.Universal Analysis software (TA Instruments, New Castle, Del., USA) isused to calculate percent crystallinity (% crystallinity) based upon themelting endotherm for the homopolymer (e.g., 207 Joules per gram for100% crystalline polypropylene material). Specifically, the percentcrystallinity (% crystallinity) is calculated by dividing the meltingendotherm measured for the copolymer or for the resin composition by the100% crystalline homopolymer melting endotherm.

Method to Determine the Creep Relation Temperature T_(α).

The creep relation temperature T_(α) is determined according to theexemplary techniques described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,866,058. The creeprelaxation temperature T_(α) is calculated to be the temperature atwhich the stress relaxation modulus of the tested material is 10%relative to the stress relaxation modulus of the tested material at thesolidification temperature of the material, where the stress relaxationmodulus is measured according to AS T_(m) E328-02. The solidificationtemperature is defined as the temperature at which there is little to nochange in the stress relaxation modulus or little to no creep about 300seconds after a stress is applied to a test material, which can beobserved by plotting the stress relaxation modulus (in Pa) as a functionof temperature (in ° C.).

Method to Determine the Vicat Softening Temperature T_(vs).

The Vicat softening temperature T_(vs) is be determined according to thetest method detailed in AS T_(m) D1525-09 Standard Test Method for VicatSoftening Temperature of Plastics, preferably using Load A and Rate A.Briefly, the Vicat softening temperature is the temperature at which aflat-ended needle penetrates the specimen to the depth of 1 mm under aspecific load. The temperature reflects the point of softening expectedwhen a material is used in an elevated temperature application. It istaken as the temperature at which the specimen is penetrated to a depthof 1 mm by a flat-ended needle with a 1 mm² circular or squarecross-section. For the Vicat A test, a load of 10 N is used, whereas forthe Vicat B test, the load is 50 N. The test involves placing a testspecimen in the testing apparatus so that the penetrating needle restson its surface at least 1 mm from the edge. A load is applied to thespecimen per the requirements of the Vicat A or Vicate B test. Thespecimen is then lowered into an oil bath at 23° C. The bath is raisedat a rate of 50° C. or 120° C. per hour until the needle penetrates 1mm. The test specimen must be between 3 and 6.5 mm thick and at least 10mm in width and length. No more than three layers can be stacked toachieve minimum thickness.

Method to Determine the Heat Deflection Temperature T_(hd).

The heat deflection temperature T_(hd) is be determined according to thetest method detailed in AS T_(m) D648-16 Standard Test Method forDeflection Temperature of Plastics Under Flexural Load in the EdgewisePosition, using a 0.455 MPa applied stress. Briefly, the heat deflectiontemperature is the temperature at which a polymer or plastic sampledeforms under a specified load. This property of a given plasticmaterial is applied in many aspects of product design, engineering, andmanufacture of products using thermoplastic components. In the testmethod, the bars are placed under the deflection measuring device and aload (0.455 MPa) of is placed on each specimen. The specimens are thenlowered into a silicone oil bath where the temperature is raised at 2°C. per minute until they deflect 0.25 mm per AS T_(m) D648-16. AS T_(m)uses a standard bar 5″×½″×¼″. ISO edgewise testing uses a bar 120 mm×10mm×4 mm. ISO flatwise testing uses a bar 80 mm×10 mm×4 mm.

Method to Determine the Melting Temperature, T_(m), and Glass TransitionTemperature, T_(g).

The melting temperature T_(m) and glass transition temperature T_(g) aredetermined using a commercially available Differential ScanningCalorimeter (“DSC”) in accordance with AS T_(m) D3418-97. Briefly, a10-15 gram sample is placed into an aluminum DSC pan and then the leadwas sealed with the crimper press. The DSC is configured to scan from−100° C. to 225° C. with a 20° C./minute heating rate, hold at 225° C.for 2 minutes, and then cool down to 25° C. at a rate of −10° C./minute.The DSC curve created from this scan is then analyzed using standardtechniques to determine the glass transition temperature T_(g) and themelting temperature T_(m).

Method to Determine the Melt Flow Index.

The melt flow index is determined according to the test method detailedin AS T_(m) D1238-13 Standard Test Method for Melt Flow Rates ofThermoplastics by Extrusion Plastometer, using Procedure A describedtherein. Briefly, the melt flow index measures the rate of extrusion ofthermoplastics through an orifice at a prescribed temperature and load.In the test method, approximately 7 grams of the material is loaded intothe barrel of the melt flow apparatus, which has been heated to atemperature specified for the material. A weight specified for thematerial is applied to a plunger and the molten material is forcedthrough the die. A timed extrudate is collected and weighed. Melt flowrate values are calculated in g/10 min.

Method to Determine the Modulus (plaque).

The modulus for a thermoformed plaque of material is determinedaccording to the test method detailed in AS T_(m) D412-98 Standard TestMethods for Vulcanized Rubber and Thermoplastic Rubbers andThermoplastic Elastomers-Tension, with the following modifications. Thesample dimension is the AS T_(m)D412-98 Die C, and the sample thicknessused is 2.0 millimeters+/−0.5 millimeters. The grip type used is apneumatic grip with a metal serrated grip face. The grip distance usedis 75 millimeters. The loading rate used is 500 millimeters/minute. Themodulus (initial) is calculated by taking the slope of the stress (M Pa)versus the strain in the initial linear region.

Method to Determine the Modulus (Yarn).

The modulus for a yarn is determined according to the test methoddetailed in EN ISO 2062 (Textiles-Yarns from Packages)—Determination ofSingle-End Breaking Force and Elongation at Break Using Constant Rate ofExtension (CRE) Tester, with the following modifications. The samplelength used is 600 millimeters. The equipment used is an Instron andGotech Fixture. The grip distance used is 250 millimeters. Thepre-loading is set to 5 grams and the loading rate used is 250millimeters/minute. The first meter of yarn is thrown away to avoidusing damaged yarn. The modulus (initial) is calculated by taking theslope of the stress (MPa) versus the strain in the initial linearregion.

Method to Determine Tenacity and Elongation.

The tenacity and elongation of yarn can be determined according to thetest method detailed in EN ISO 2062 Determination of single end breakingforce and elongation at break using constant rate of extension testerwith the pre-load set to 5 grams.

Method to Determine Shrinkage.

The free-standing shrinkage of fibers and/or yarns can be determined bythe following method. A sample fiber or yarn is cut to a length ofapproximately 30 millimeters with minimal tension at approximately roomtemperature (e.g., 20° C.). The cut sample is placed in a 50° C. or 70°C. oven for 90 seconds. The sample is removed from the oven andmeasured. The percentage of shrink is calculated using the pre- andpost-oven measurements of the sample, by dividing the post-ovenmeasurement by the pre-oven measurement, and multiplying by 100.

Method to Determine Enthalpy of Melting.

The enthalpy of melting is determined by the following method. A 5-10 mgsample of fibers or yarn is weighed to determine the sample mass, isplaced into an aluminum DSC pan, and then the lid of the DSC pan issealed using a crimper press. The DSC is configured to scan from −100°C. to 225° C. with a 20° C./minute heating rate, hold at 225° C. for 2minutes, and then cool down to room temperature (e.g., 25° C.) at a rateof −10° C./minute. The enthalpy of melting is calculated by integratingthe area of the melting endotherm peak and normalizing by the samplemass.

Water Uptake Capacity Test Protocol

This test measures the water uptake capacity of the layered materialafter a predetermined soaking duration for a sample (e.g., taken withthe above-discussed Footwear Sampling Procedure). The sample isinitially dried at 60° C. until there is no weight change forconsecutive measurement intervals of at least 30 minutes apart (e.g., a24-hour drying period at 60° C. is typically a suitable duration). Thetotal weight of the dried sample (Wt,_(sample dry)) is then measured ingrams. The dried sample is allowed to cool down to 25° C., and is fullyimmersed in a deionized water bath maintained at 25° C. After a givensoaking duration, the sample is removed from the deionized water bath,blotted with a cloth to remove surface water, and the total weight ofthe soaked sample (Wt,_(sample wet)) is measured in grams.

Any suitable soaking duration can be used, where a 24-hour soakingduration is believed to simulate saturation conditions for the layeredmaterial of the present disclosure (i.e., the hydrophilic resin will bein its saturated state). Accordingly, as used herein, the expression“having a water uptake capacity at 5 minutes” refers to a soakingduration of 5 minutes, the expression “having a water uptake capacity at1 hour” refers to a soaking duration of 1 hour, the expression “having awater uptake capacity at 24 hours” refers to a soaking duration of 24hours, and the like. If no time duration is indicated after a wateruptake capacity value, the soaking duration corresponds to a period of24 hours.

As can be appreciated, the total weight of a sample taken pursuant tothe Footwear Sampling Procedure includes the weight of the material asdried or soaked (Wt,_(sample dry) or Wt,_(sample wet)) and the weight ofthe substrate (Wt,_(substrate)) needs to be subtracted from the samplemeasurements.

The weight of the substrate (Wt,_(substrate)) is calculated using thesample surface area (e.g., 4.0 cm²), an average measured thickness ofthe layered material, and the average density of the layered material.Alternatively, if the density of the material for the substrate is notknown or obtainable, the weight of the substrate (Wt,_(substrate)) isdetermined by taking a second sample using the same sampling procedureas used for the primary sample, and having the same dimensions (surfacearea and film/substrate thicknesses) as the primary sample. The materialof the second sample is then cut apart from the substrate of the secondsample with a blade to provide an isolated substrate. The isolatedsubstrate is then dried at 60° C. for 24 hours, which can be performedat the same time as the primary sample drying. The weight of theisolated substrate (Wt,_(substrate)) is then measured in grams.

The resulting substrate weight (Wt,_(substrate)) is then subtracted fromthe weights of the dried and soaked primary sample t (Wt,,_(sample dry)or Wt,_(sample wet)) to provide the weights of the material as dried andsoaked t (Wt,,_(component dry) or Wt,_(component wet)) as depicted byEquations 1 and 2.

Wt. _(component dry) =Wt,, _(sample dry) −Wt, _(substrate)  (Eq. 1)

Wt _(component wet) =Wt,, _(sample wet) −Wt, _(substrate)  (Eq. 2)

The weight of the dried component t (Wt._(component dry)) is thensubtracted from the weight of the soaked component (Wt_(component wet))to provide the weight of water that was taken up by the component, whichis then divided by the weight of the dried component(Wt._(component dry)) to provide the water uptake capacity for the givensoaking duration as a percentage, as depicted below by Equation 3.

$\begin{matrix}{{{Water}\mspace{14mu} {Uptake}\mspace{14mu} {Capacity}} = {\frac{{Wt}_{{component}\mspace{14mu} {wet}} - {{Wt}._{{component}\mspace{14mu} {dry}}}}{{Wt}._{{component}\mspace{14mu} {dry}}}\left( {100\%} \right)}} & \left( {{Eq}.\mspace{14mu} 3} \right)\end{matrix}$

For example, a water uptake capacity of 50% at 1 hour means that thesoaked component weighed 1.5 times more than its dry-state weight aftersoaking for 1 hour. Similarly, a water uptake capacity of 500% at 24hours means that the soaked component weighed 5 times more than itsdry-state weight after soaking for 24 hours.

Water Uptake Rate Test Protocol

This test measures the water uptake rate of the layered material bymodeling weight gain as a function of soaking time for a sample with aone-dimensional diffusion model. The sample can be taken with any of theabove-discussed sampling procedures, including the Footwear SamplingProcedure. The sample is dried at 60° C. until there is no weight changefor consecutive measurement intervals of at least 30 minutes apart (a24-hour drying period at 60° C. is typically a suitable duration). Thetotal weight of the dried sample t (Wt,,_(sample thy)) is then measuredin grams. Additionally, the average thickness of the component for thedried sample is measured for use in calculating the water uptake rate,as explained below.

The dried sample is allowed to cool down to 25° C., and is fullyimmersed in a deionized water bath maintained at 25° C. Between soakingdurations of 1, 2, 4, 9, 16, and 25 minutes, the sample is removed fromthe deionized water bath, blotted with a cloth to remove surface water,and the total weight of the soaked sample t (Wt,,_(sample wet)) ismeasured, where “t” refers to the particular soaking-duration data point(e.g., 1, 2, 4, 9, 16, or 25 minutes).

The exposed surface area of the soaked sample is also measured withcalipers for determining the specific weight gain, as explained below.The exposed surface area refers to the surface area that comes intocontact with the deionized water when fully immersed in the bath. Forsamples obtained using the Footwear Sampling Procedure, the samples onlyhave one major surface exposed. For convenience, the surface areas ofthe peripheral edges of the sample are ignored due to their relativelysmall dimensions.

The measured sample is fully immersed back in the deionized water bathbetween measurements. The 1, 2, 4, 9, 16, and 25 minute durations referto cumulative soaking durations while the sample is fully immersed inthe deionized water bath (i.e., after the first minute of soaking andfirst measurement, the sample is returned to the bath for one moreminute of soaking before measuring at the 2-minute mark).

As discussed above in the Water Uptake Capacity Test, the total weightof a sample taken pursuant to the Footwear Sampling Procedure includesthe weight of the material as dried or soaked (Wt_(component wet) orWt._(component dry)) and the weight of the article or backing substrate(Wt,_(substrate)). In order to determine a weight change of the materialdue to water uptake, the weight of the substrate (Wt,_(substrate)) needsto be subtracted from the sample weight measurements. This can beaccomplished using the same steps discussed above in the Water UptakeCapacity Test to provide the resulting material weightsWt,_(component wet) and Wt._(component dry) for each soaking-durationmeasurement.

The specific weight gain (Ws_(t)) from water uptake for each soakedsample is then calculated as the difference between the weight of thesoaked sample (Wt_(component wet)) and the weight of the initial driedsample (Wt._(component dry)) where the resulting difference is thendivided by the exposed surface area of the soaked sample (A_(t)) asdepicted in Equation 4.

$\begin{matrix}{\left( {Ws}_{t} \right) = \frac{\left( {{Wt}_{{component}\mspace{14mu} {wet}} - {{Wt}._{{component}\mspace{14mu} {dry}}}} \right)}{\left( A_{t} \right)}} & \left( {{Eq}.\mspace{14mu} 4} \right)\end{matrix}$

where t refers to the particular soaking-duration data point (e.g., 1,2, 4, 9, 16, or 25 minutes), as mentioned above.

The water uptake rate for the elastomeric material is then determined asthe slope of the specific weight gains (Ws_(t)) versus the square rootof time (in minutes), as determined by a least squares linear regressionof the data points. For the elastomeric material of the presentdisclosure, the plot of the specific weight gains (Ws_(t)) versus thesquare root of time (in minutes) provides an initial slope that issubstantially linear (to provide the water uptake rate by the linearregression analysis). However, after a period of time depending on thethickness of the component, the specific weight gains will slow down,indicating a reduction in the water uptake rate, until the saturatedstate is reached. This is believed to be due to the water beingsufficiently diffused throughout the elastomeric material as the wateruptake approaches saturation, and will vary depending on componentthickness.

As such, for the component having an average thickness (as measuredabove) less than 0.3 millimeters, only the specific weight gain datapoints at 1, 2, 4, and 9 minutes are used in the linear regressionanalysis. In these cases, the data points at 16 and 25 minutes can beginto significantly diverge from the linear slope due to the water uptakeapproaching saturation, and are omitted from the linear regressionanalysis. In comparison, for the component having an average driedthickness (as measured above) of 0.3 millimeters or more, the specificweight gain data points at 1, 2, 4, 9, 16, and 25 minutes are used inthe linear regression analysis. The resulting slope defining the wateruptake rate for the sample has units of weight/(surface area-square rootof time), such as grams/(meter²-minutes^(1/2)) or g/m²/√min.

Furthermore, some component surfaces can create surface phenomenon thatquickly attract and retain water molecules (e.g., via surface hydrogenbonding or capillary action) without actually drawing the watermolecules into the film or substrate. Thus, samples of these films orsubstrates can show rapid specific weight gains for the 1-minute sample,and possibly for the 2-minute sample. After that, however, furtherweight gain is negligible. As such, the linear regression analysis isonly applied if the specific weight gain in data points at 1, 2, and 4minutes continue to show an increase in water uptake. If not, the wateruptake rate under this test methodology is considered to be about zerog/m²/√min.

Swelling Capacity Test Protocol

This test measures the swelling capacity of the component in terms ofincreases in thickness and volume after a given soaking duration for asample (e.g., taken with the above-discussed Footwear SamplingProcedure). The sample is initially dried at 60° C. until there is noweight change for consecutive measurement intervals of at least 30minutes apart (a 24-hour drying period is typically a suitableduration). The dimensions of the dried sample are then measured (e.g.,thickness, length, and width for a rectangular sample; thickness anddiameter for a circular sample, etc.). The dried sample is then fullyimmersed in a deionized water bath maintained at 25° C. After a givensoaking duration, the sample is removed from the deionized water bath,blotted with a cloth to remove surface water, and the same dimensionsfor the soaked sample are re-measured.

Any suitable soaking duration can be used. Accordingly, as used herein,the expression “having a swelling thickness (or volume) increase at 5minutes of.” refers to a soaking duration of 5 minutes, the expression“having a swelling thickness (or volume) increase at 1 hour of” refersto a test duration of 1 hour, the expression “having a swellingthickness (or volume) increase at 24 hours of” refers to a test durationof 24 hours, and the like.

The swelling of the component is determined by (1) an increase in thethickness between the dried and soaked component, by (2) an increase inthe volume between the dried and soaked component, or (3) both. Theincrease in thickness between the dried and soaked components iscalculated by subtracting the measured thickness of the initial driedcomponent from the measured thickness of the soaked component.Similarly, the increase in volume between the dried and soakedcomponents is calculated by subtracting the measured volume of theinitial dried component from the measured volume of the soakedcomponent. The increases in the thickness and volume can also berepresented as percentage increases relative to the dry thickness orvolume, respectively.

Contact Angle Test

This test measures the contact angle of the layered material based on astatic sessile drop contact angle measurement for a sample (e.g., takenwith the above-discussed Footwear Sampling Procedure or Co-extruded FilmSampling Procedure). The contact angle refers to the angle at which aliquid interface meets a solid surface, and is an indicator of howhydrophilic the surface is.

For a dry test (i.e., to determine a dry-state contact angle), thesample is initially equilibrated at 25 degree C. and 20% humidity for 24hours. For a wet test (i.e., to determine a wet-state contact angle),the sample is fully immersed in a deionized water bath maintained at 25degree C. for 24 hours. After that, the sample is removed from the bathand blotted with a cloth to remove surface water, and clipped to a glassslide if needed to prevent curling.

The dry or wet sample is then placed on a moveable stage of a contactangle goniometer commercially available under the tradename “RAME-HARTF290” from Rame-Hart Instrument Co., Succasunna, N.J. A 10-microliterdroplet of deionized water is then placed on the sample using a syringeand automated pump. An image is then immediately taken of the droplet(before film can take up the droplet), and the contact angle of bothedges of the water droplet are measured from the image. The decrease incontact angle between the dried and wet samples is calculated bysubtracting the measured contact angle of the wet layered material fromthe measured contact angle of the dry layered material.

Coefficient of Friction Test

This test measures the coefficient of friction of the Coefficient ofFriction Test for a sample (e.g., taken with the above-discussedFootwear Sampling Procedure, Co-extruded Film Sampling Procedure, or theNeat Film Sampling Procedure). For a dry test (i.e., to determine adry-state coefficient of friction), the sample is initially equilibratedat 25 degree C. and 20% humidity for 24 hours. For a wet test (i.e., todetermine a wet-state coefficient of friction), the sample is fullyimmersed in a deionized water bath maintained at 25 degree C. for 24hours. After that, the sample is removed from the bath and blotted witha cloth to remove surface water.

The measurement is performed with an aluminum sled mounted on analuminum test track, which is used to perform a sliding friction testfor test sample on an aluminum surface of the test track. The test trackmeasures 127 millimeters wide by 610 millimeters long. The aluminum sledmeasures 76.2 millimeters.times.76.2 millimeters, with a 9.5 millimeterradius cut into the leading edge. The contact area of the aluminum sledwith the track is 76.2 millimeters×66.6 millimeters, or 5,100 squaremillimeters).

The dry or wet sample is attached to the bottom of the sled using a roomtemperature-curing two-part epoxy adhesive commercially available underthe tradename “LOCTITE 608” from Henkel, Dusseldorf, Germany. Theadhesive is used to maintain the planarity of the wet sample, which cancurl when saturated. A polystyrene foam having a thickness of about 25.4millimeters is attached to the top surface of the sled (opposite of thetest sample) for structural support.

The sliding friction test is conducted using a screw-driven load frame.A tow cable is attached to the sled with a mount supported in thepolystyrene foam structural support, and is wrapped around a pulley todrag the sled across the aluminum test track. The sliding or frictionalforce is measured using a load transducer with a capacity of 2,000Newtons. The normal force is controlled by placing weights on top of thealuminum sled, supported by the polystyrene foam structural support, fora total sled weight of 20.9 kilograms (205 Newtons). The crosshead ofthe test frame is increased at a rate of 5 millimeters/second, and thetotal test displacement is 250 millimeters. The coefficient of frictionis calculated based on the steady-state force parallel to the directionof movement required to pull the sled at constant velocity. Thecoefficient of friction itself is found by dividing the steady-statepull force by the applied normal force. Any transient value relatingstatic coefficient of friction at the start of the test is ignored.

Storage Modulus Test

This test measures the resistance of the layered material to beingdeformed (ratio of stress to strain) when a vibratory or oscillatingforce is applied to it, and is a good indicator of film compliance inthe dry and wet states. For this test, a sample is provided in neat formusing the Neat Film Sampling Procedure, which is modified such that thesurface area of the test sample is rectangular with dimensions of 5.35millimeters wide and 10 millimeters long. The layered material thicknesscan range from 0.1 millimeters to 2 millimeters, and the specific rangeis not particularly limited as the end modulus result is normalizedaccording to layered material thickness.

The storage modulus (E′) with units of megaPascals (MPa) of the sampleis determined by dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) using a DMA analyzercommercially available under the tradename “Q800 DMA ANALYZER” from TAInstruments, New Castle, Del., which is equipped with a relativehumidity accessory to maintain the sample at constant temperature andrelative humidity during the analysis.

Initially, the thickness of the test sample is measured using calipers(for use in the modulus calculations). The test sample is then clampedinto the DMA analyzer, which is operated at the following stress/strainconditions during the analysis: isothermal temperature of 25 degree C.,frequency of 1 Hertz, strain amplitude of 10 micrometers, preload of 1Newton, and force track of 125%. The DMA analysis is performed at aconstant 25 degree C. temperature according to the followingtime/relative humidity (RH) profile: (i) 0% RH for 300 minutes(representing the dry state for storage modulus determination), (ii) 50%RH for 600 minutes, (iii) 90% RH for 600 minutes (representing the wetstate for storage modulus determination), and (iv) 0% RH for 600minutes.

The E′ value (in MPa) is determined from the DMA curve according tostandard DMA techniques at the end of each time segment with a constantRH value. Namely, the E′ value at 0% RH (i.e., the dry-state storagemodulus) is the value at the end of step (i), the E′ value at 50% RH isthe value at the end of step (ii), and the E′ value at 90% RH (i.e., thewet-state storage modulus) is the value at the end of step (iii) in thespecified time/relative humidity profile.

The layered material can be characterized by its dry-state storagemodulus, its wet-state storage modulus, or the reduction in storagemodulus between the dry-state and wet-state layered materials, wherewet-state storage modulus is less than the dry-state storage modulus.This reduction in storage modulus can be listed as a difference betweenthe dry-state storage modulus and the wet-state storage modulus, or as apercentage change relative to the dry-state storage modulus.

Glass Transition Temperature Test

This test measures the glass transition temperature (T_(g)) of theoutsole film for a sample, where the outsole film is provided in neatform, such as with the Neat Film Sampling Procedure or the Neat MaterialSampling Procedure, with a 10-milligram sample weight. The sample ismeasured in both a dry state and a wet state (i.e., after exposure to ahumid environment as described herein).

The glass transition temperature is determined with DMA using a DMAanalyzer commercially available under the tradename “Q2000 DMA ANALYZER”from TA Instruments, New Castle, Del., which is equipped with aluminumhermetic pans with pinhole lids, and the sample chamber is purged with50 milliliters/minute of nitrogen gas during analysis. Samples in thedry state are prepared by holding at 0% RH until constant weight (lessthan 0.01% weight change over 120 minute period). Samples in the wetstate are prepared by conditioning at a constant 25 degree C. accordingto the following time/relative humidity (RH) profile: (i) 250 minutes at0% RH, (ii) 250 minutes at 50% RH, and (iii) 1,440 minutes at 90% RH.Step (iii) of the conditioning program can be terminated early if sampleweight is measured during conditioning and is measured to besubstantially constant within 0.05% during an interval of 100 minutes.

After the sample is prepared in either the dry or wet state, it isanalyzed by DSC to provide a heat flow versus temperature curve. The DSCanalysis is performed with the following time/temperature profile: (i)equilibrate at −90 degree C. for 2 minutes, (ii) ramp at +10 degreeC./minute to 250 degree C., (iii) ramp at −50 degree C./minute to −90degree C., and (iv) ramp at +10 degree C./minute to 250 degree C. Theglass transition temperature value (in Celsius) is determined from theDSC curve according to standard DSC techniques.

Sampling Procedures

Various properties of the resin compositions and plates and otherarticles formed therefrom can be characterized using samples preparedwith the following sampling procedures:

Material Sampling Procedure

A material sampling procedure can be used to obtain a neat sample of aresin composition or, in some instances, a sample of a material used toform a resin composition. The material is provided in media form, suchas flakes, granules, powders, pellets, and the like. If a source of theresin composition is not available in a neat form, the sample can be cutfrom a plate or other component containing the resin composition,thereby isolating a sample of the material.

Plaque Sampling Procedure

Polyolefin resin is combined with the effective amount of the polymericresin modifier along with any additional components to form the resincomposition. A portion of the resin composition is then be molded into aplaque sized to fit inside the Ross flexing tester used, the plaquehaving dimensions of about 15 centimeters (cm) by 2.5 centimeters (cm)and a thickness of about 1 millimeter (mm) to about 4 millimeter (mm) bythermoforming the resin composition in a mold. The sample is prepared bymixing the components of the resin composition together, melting thecomponents, pouring or injecting the melted composition into the moldcavity, cooling the melted composition to solidify it in the mold cavityto form the plaque, and then removing the solid plaque from the moldcavity.

Definitions

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used hereinhave the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill inthe art to which this disclosure belongs. It will be further understoodthat terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, shouldbe interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaningin the context of the specification and relevant art and should not beinterpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expresslydefined herein.

All publications, patents, and patent applications cited in thisspecification are cited to disclose and describe the methods and/ormaterials in connection with which the publications are cited. All suchpublications, patents, and patent applications are herein incorporatedby references as if each individual publication or patent werespecifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.Such incorporation by reference is expressly limited to the methodsand/or materials described in the cited publications, patents, andpatent applications and does not extend to any lexicographicaldefinitions from the cited publications, patents, and patentapplications. Any lexicographical definition in the publications,patents, and patent applications cited that is not also expresslyrepeated in the instant specification should not be treated as such andshould not be read as defining any terms appearing in the accompanyingclaims.

Although any methods and materials similar or equivalent to thosedescribed herein can also be used in the practice or testing of thepresent disclosure, the preferred methods and materials are nowdescribed. Functions or constructions well-known in the art may not bedescribed in detail for brevity and/or clarity. Aspects of the presentdisclosure will employ, unless otherwise indicated, techniques ofnanotechnology, organic chemistry, material science and engineering andthe like, which are within the skill of the art. Such techniques areexplained fully in the literature.

It should be noted that ratios, concentrations, amounts, and othernumerical data can be expressed herein in a range format. Where thestated range includes one or both of the limits, ranges excluding eitheror both of those included limits are also included in the disclosure,e.g. the phrase “x to y” includes the range from ‘x’ to ‘y’ as well asthe range greater than ‘x’ and less than ‘y’. The range can also beexpressed as an upper limit, e.g. ‘about x, y, z, or less’ and should beinterpreted to include the specific ranges of ‘about x’, ‘about y’, and‘about z’ as well as the ranges of ‘less than x’, less than y′, and‘less than z’. Likewise, the phrase ‘about x, y, z, or greater’ shouldbe interpreted to include the specific ranges of ‘about x’, ‘about y’,and ‘about z’ as well as the ranges of ‘greater than x’, greater thany′, and ‘greater than z’. In addition, the phrase “about ‘x’ to ‘y’”,where ‘x’ and ‘y’ are numerical values, includes “about ‘x’ to about‘y’”. It is to be understood that such a range format is used forconvenience and brevity, and thus, should be interpreted in a flexiblemanner to include not only the numerical values explicitly recited asthe limits of the range, but also to include all the individualnumerical values or sub-ranges encompassed within that range as if eachnumerical value and sub-range is explicitly recited. To illustrate, anumerical range of “about 0.1% to 5%” should be interpreted to includenot only the explicitly recited values of about 0.1% to about 5%, butalso include individual values (e.g., 1%, 2%, 3%, and 4%) and thesub-ranges (e.g., 0.5%, 1.1%, 2.4%, 3.2%, and 4.4%) within the indicatedrange.

The term “providing,” as used herein and as recited in the claims, isnot intended to require any particular delivery or receipt of theprovided item. Rather, the term “providing” is merely used to reciteitems that will be referred to in subsequent elements of the claim(s),for purposes of clarity and ease of readability. The terms “MaterialSampling Procedure”, “Plaque Sampling Procedure”, “Cold Ross Flex Test”,“ASTM D 5963-97a”, and “Differential Scanning Calorimeter (DSC) Test” asused herein refer to the respective sampling procedures and testmethodologies described in the Property Analysis And CharacterizationProcedure section. These sampling procedures and test methodologiescharacterize the properties of the recited materials, films, articlesand components, and the like, and are not required to be performed asactive steps in the claims.

The term “about,” as used herein, can include traditional roundingaccording to significant figures of the numerical value. In someaspects, the term about is used herein to mean a deviation of 10%, 5%,2.5%, 1%, 0.5%, 0.1%, 0.01%, or less from the specified value.

The articles “a” and “an,” as used herein, mean one or more when appliedto any feature in aspects of the present disclosure described in thespecification and claims. The use of “a” and “an” does not limit themeaning to a single feature unless such a limit is specifically stated.The article “the” preceding singular or plural nouns or noun phrasesdenotes a particular specified feature or particular specified featuresand may have a singular or plural connotation depending upon the contextin which it is used.

A random copolymer of propylene with about 2.2% by weight (wt %)ethylene is commercially available under the tradename “PP9054” fromExxonMobil Chemical Company, Houston, Tex. It has a MFR (ASTM-1238D,2.16 kilograms, 230° C.) of about 12 grams/10 minutes and a density of0.90 grams/cubic centimeter (g/cm³).

PP9074 is a random copolymer of propylene with about 2.8% by weight (wt%) ethylene and is commercially available under the tradename “PP9074”from ExxonMobil Chemical Company, Houston, Tex. It has a MFR(ASTM-1238D, 2.16 kilograms, 230° C.) of about 24 grams/10 minutes and adensity of 0.90 grams/cubic centimeter (g/cm³).

PP1024E4 is a propylene homopolymer commercially available under thetradename “PP1024E4” from ExxonMobil Chemical Company, Houston, Tex. Ithas an MFR (ASTM-1238D, 2.16 kilograms, 230° C.) of about 13 grams/10minutes and a density of 0.90 grams/cubic centimeter (g/cm³).

Vistamaxx 6202 is a copolymer primarily composed of isotactic propylenerepeat units with about 15% by weight (wt %) of ethylene repeat unitsrandomly distributed along the copolymer. It is a metallocene catalyzedcopolymer available under the tradename “VISTAMAXX 6202” from ExxonMobilChemical Company, Houston, Tex. and has an MFR (ASTM-1238D, 2.16kilograms, 230° C.) of about 20 grams/10 minutes, a density of 0.862grams/cubic centimeter (g/cm³), and a Durometer Hardness of about 64(Shore A).

Vistamaxx™ 3000 is a copolymer primarily composed of isotactic propylenerepeat units with about 11% by weight (wt %) of ethylene repeat unitsrandomly distributed along the copolymer. It is a metallocene catalyzedcopolymer available from ExxonMobil Chemical Company and has an MFR(ASTM-1238D, 2.16 kilograms, 230° C.) of about 8 grams/10 minutes, adensity of 0.873 grams/cubic centimeter (g/cm³), and a DurometerHardness of about 27 (Shore D).

Vistamaxx™ 6502 is a copolymer primarily composed of isotactic propylenerepeat units with about 13% by weight of ethylene repeat units randomlydistributed along the copolymer. It is a metallocene catalyzed copolymeravailable from ExxonMobil Chemical Company and has an MFR (ASTM-1238D,2.16 kilograms, 230° C.) of about 45 grams/10 minutes, a density of0.865 grams/cubic centimeter (g/cm³), and a Durometer Hardness of about71 (Shore A).

Examples

Now having described the aspects of the present disclosure, in general,the following Examples describe some additional aspects of the presentdisclosure. While aspects of the present disclosure are described inconnection with the following examples and the corresponding text andfigures, there is no intent to limit aspects of the present disclosureto this description. On the contrary, the intent is to cover allalternatives, modifications, and equivalents included within the spiritand scope of the present disclosure.

Materials

For the examples described below, the following base resins were used.

TABLE 1 Base Resins Base Resin Description Polyolefin Base ResinSupplier MFI Description PP9054 ExxonMobil 12 Propylene Random CopolymerPP9074Med ExxonMobil 24 Propylene Random Copolymer/High Clarity PP1024E4ExxonMobil 13 Propylene Homopolymer

The following polymeric resin modifiers were used in the examples.

TABLE 2 Polymeric Resin Modifiers Modifier/Blend Description PolymericLoading Ethylene Resin Modifiers Supplier MFI % Percent Vistamaxx 6202ExxonMobil 21 30 15 Vistamaxx 3000 ExxonMobil 9.1 50 11 Vistamaxx 6502ExxonMobil 43 40 13

The resin compositions including the base resins and varying amounts ofpolymeric resin modifier were prepared and tested to determine theabrasion loss pursuant to the ASTM D 5963-97a using the MaterialSampling Procedure; and by a flex test pursuant to the Cold Ross FlexTest using the Plaque Sampling Procedure. The results are presented inTable 3. The percent (%) crystallization was measured for sample resincompositions using according to the Differential Scanning Calorimeter(DSC) Test using the Material Sampling Procedure. The results arereported in Table 4.

TABLE 3 Density, DIN Abrasion Loss, and Cold Ross Flex Summary of ResinCompositions With Varying Amounts of Polymeric Resin Modifier Resin ColdDIN Base Polymeric Modi- Ross Abrasion Polyolefin Resin Resin fier FlexDen- Loss Base Resin wt % Modifier wt % Summary sity (cm³) PP9054 100n/a 0 Fail 0.896 0.089 PP9054 85 6202 15 Pass 0.891 0.085 PP9054 70 620230 * 0.891 0.095 PP9054 50 6202 50 * 0.883 0.158 PP9054 85 6502 15 *0.896 0.084 PP9054 80 6502 20 Pass * * PP9054 60 6502 40 * * * PP9054 853000 15 * 0.897 0.078 PP9054 75 3000 25 Pass * * PP9054 50 3000 50 * * *PP9074Med 100 n/a 0 Fail 0.902 0.089 PP9074Med 85 6202 15 * 0.894 0.101PP9074Med 70 6202 30 Pass * * PP1024E4 100 n/a 0 Pass 0.903 0.083PP1024E4 85 6202 15 * 0.899 0.162 PP1024E4 50 3000 50 Pass * * * notdetermined

TABLE 4 Percent Crystallization of Representative Resin CompositionsBase Resin Blend Blend Resin % Base Resin wt % Resin wt % CrystalizationPP9054 100 n/a 0 38% PP9054 85 6202 15 34% PP9054 70 6202 30 30% PP905480 6502 20 24% PP9054 60 6502 40 24% PP9054 75 3000 25 29% PP9054 503000 50 23% PP9074Med 100 n/a 0 45% PP9074Med 70 6202 30 30% PP1024E4100 n/a 0 54% PP1024E4 50 3000 50 30%

It should be emphasized that the above-described aspects of the presentdisclosure are merely possible examples of implementations, and are setforth only for a clear understanding of the principles of thedisclosure. Many variations and modifications may be made to theabove-described aspects of the disclosure without departingsubstantially from the spirit and principles of the disclosure. All suchmodifications and variations are intended to be included herein withinthe scope of this disclosure.

The present disclosure will be better understood upon review of thefollowing features, which should not be confused with the claims.

Feature 1. A sole structure for an article of footwear, the solestructure comprising: a plate comprising a polyolefin resin, the platehaving a first side and a second side, wherein the first side isconfigured to be ground-facing when the plate is a component of anarticle of footwear; and a textile disposed on one or both of the firstside and the second side.

Feature 2. The sole structure according to any one of Features 1-105,wherein the textile is on the second side.

Feature 3. The sole structure according to any one of Features 1-105,further comprising a lower chassis, wherein the lower chassis isconfigured to be on the first side of the plate.

Feature 4. The sole structure according to any one of Features 1-105,wherein the lower chassis is configured to wrap around the plate and toengage or be attached to an upper when the sole structure is a componentof an article of footwear.

Feature 5. The sole structure according to any one of Features 1-105,wherein the lower chassis is configured to attach to the upper at thebite line when the sole structure is a component of an article offootwear.

Feature 6. The sole structure according to any one of Features 1-105,wherein the lower chassis comprises a polymer selected from the groupconsisting of polypropylene, polypropylene/polyethylene copolymers,copolymers of ethylene and higher olefins such aspolyethylene/polyoctene copolymers, copolymers thereof including one ormore additional polymers, and blends thereof.

Feature 7. The sole structure according to any one of Features 1-105,wherein the chassis comprises a polyolefin.

Feature 8. The sole structure according to any one of Features 1-105,wherein the chassis comprises a resin composition according to any oneof Features 130-194.

Feature 9. The sole structure according to any one of Features 1-105,wherein the textile is on the first side of the plate, and wherein thetextile comprises a patterned or decorative textile.

Feature 10. The sole structure according to any one of Features 1-105,wherein the textile is on the first side of the plate, and wherein abond strength of the first side to the chassis is greater than a bondstrength of the otherwise same plate to the otherwise same chassis usingthe otherwise same bonding procedure except without the textile.

Feature 11. The sole structure according to any one of Features 1-105,wherein the textile comprises a first textile on the first side of theplate and a second textile on the second side of the plate.

Feature 12. The sole structure according to any one of Features 1-105,wherein the first textile and the second textile are different.

Feature 13. The sole structure according to any one of Features 1-105,wherein the first textile and the second textile are the same.

Feature 14. The sole structure according to any one of Features 1-105,wherein the sole structure is configured to extend from a medial side toa lateral side of the article of footwear when the sole structure is thecomponent of the article of footwear.

Feature 15. The sole structure according to any one of Features 1-105,wherein a length of the plate is configured to extend through ametatarsal region to a midfoot region of the article of footwear whenthe sole structure is the component of the article of footwear.

Feature 16. The sole structure according to any one of Features 1-105,wherein a length of the plate is configured to extend through a midfootregion to a heel region of the article of footwear when the solestructure is the component of the article of footwear.

Feature 17. The sole structure according to any one of Features 1-105,wherein a length of the plate is configured to extend from a toe regionto a heel region of the article of footwear when the sole structure isthe component of the article of footwear.

Feature 18. The sole structure according to any one of Features 1-105,wherein the first side of the plate includes traction elements.

Feature 19. The sole structure according to any one of Features 1-105,wherein the traction elements are integrally formed in the plate.

Feature 20. The sole structure according to any one of Features 1-105,wherein the traction elements include the injection molded resincomposition.

Feature 21. The sole structure according to any one of Features 1-105,wherein the chassis includes traction elements on a side of the chassisthat is configured to be ground facing when the sole structure is acomponent of an article of footwear.

Feature 22. The sole structure according to any one of Features 1-105,wherein the traction elements are integrally formed in the chassis.

Feature 23. The sole structure according to any one of Features 1-105,wherein the first side of the plate comprises one or more openingsconfigured to receive a detachable traction element.

Feature 24. The sole structure according to any one of Features 1-105,wherein the chassis includes one or more openings configured to receivea detachable traction element on a side of the chassis that isconfigured to be ground facing when the sole structure is a component ofan article of footwear.

Feature 25. The sole structure according to any one of Features 1-105,wherein the traction elements comprise a second resin that is differentfrom the polyolefin resin.

Feature 26. The sole structure according to any one of Features 1-105,wherein the second resin comprises a polystyrene, a polyethylene, anethylene-α-olefin copolymer, an ethylene-propylene rubber (EPDM), apolybutene, a polyisobutylene, a poly-4-methylpent-1-ene, apolyisoprene, a polybutadiene, a ethylene-methacrylic acid copolymer, anolefin elastomer, a copolymer thereof, or a blend or mixture thereof.

Feature 27. The sole structure according to any one of Features 1-105,wherein the second resin comprises about 20%, about 10%, or less of apolyolefin.

Feature 28. The sole structure according to any one of Features 1-105,wherein the second resin comprises about 20%, about 10%, or less ofpolypropylene.

Feature 29. The sole structure according to any one of Features 1-105,wherein the second resin comprises an ethylene-propylene rubber (EPDM)dispersed in a polypropylene.

Feature 30. The sole structure according to any one of Features 1-105,wherein the second resin comprises a block copolymer comprising apolystyrene block.

Feature 31. The sole structure according to any one of Features 1-105,wherein the block copolymer comprises a copolymer of styrene and one orboth of ethylene and butylene.

Feature 32. The sole structure according to any one of Features 1-105,wherein the textile is disposed on the plate by injection molding theplate onto the textile, by laminating the textile onto the plate, bywelding the textile onto the plate, and/or by bonding to the plate usingan adhesive.

Feature 33. The sole structure according to any one of Features 1-105,wherein the textile is selected from the group consisting of a woventextile, a non-woven textile, a knit textile, a braided textile, and acombination thereof.

Feature 34. The sole structure according to any one of Features 1-105,wherein the textile comprises one or more fibers comprising a polymerselected from the group consisting of a polyester, a polyamide, apolyolefin, a blend thereof, and a combination thereof.

Feature 35. The sole structure according to any one of Features 1-105,wherein the textile comprises a yarn comprising the fibers.

Feature 36. The sole structure according to any one of Features 1-105,wherein a surface roughness of the surface comprising the textile isgreater than a surface roughness of the otherwise same surface exceptwithout the textile.

Feature 37. The sole structure according to any one of Features 1-105,wherein the plate comprises a resin composition according to any one ofFeatures 130-194.

Feature 38. The sole structure according to any one of Features 1-105,wherein the plate further comprises a clarifying agent.

Feature 39. The sole structure according to any one of Features 1-105,wherein the clarifying agent is present in an amount from about 0.5% byweight to about 5% by weight or about 1.5% by weight to about 2.5% byweight based upon a total weight of the polyolefin resin.

Feature 40. The sole structure according to any one of Features 1-105,wherein the clarifying agent is selected from the group consisting of asubstituted or unsubstituted dibenzylidene sorbitol,1,3-O-2,4-bis(3,4-dimethylbenzylidene) sorbitol,1,2,3-trideoxy-4,6:5,7-bis-O-[(4-propylphenyl)methylene], and aderivative thereof.

Feature 41. The sole structure according to any one of Features 1-105,wherein the clarifying agent comprises an acetal compound that is thecondensation product of a polyhydric alcohol and an aromatic aldehyde.

Feature 42. The sole structure according to any one of Features 1-105,wherein the polyhydric alcohol is selected from the group consisting ofacyclic polyols such as xylitol and sorbitol and acyclic deoxy polyolssuch as 1,2,3-trideoxynonitol or 1,2,3-trideoxynon-1-enitol.

Feature 43. The sole structure according to any one of Features 1-105,wherein the aromatic aldehyde is selected from the group consisting ofbenzaldehyde and substituted benzaldehydes.

Feature 44. A sole structure for an article of footwear, the solestructure comprising: a plate comprising a polyolefin resin, the platehaving a first side and a second side, wherein the first side isconfigured to be ground-facing when the plate is a component of anarticle of footwear; and a chassis, wherein the chassis is configured tobe on the first side of the plate.

Feature 45. The sole structure according to any one of Features 1-105,wherein the chassis is configured to wrap around the plate and to engageor be attached to an upper when the sole structure is a component of anarticle of footwear.

Feature 46. The sole structure according to any one of Features 1-105,wherein the chassis is configured to attach to the upper at the biteline when the sole structure is a component of an article of footwear.

Feature 47. The sole structure according to any one of Features 1-105,wherein the chassis comprises a polymer selected from the groupconsisting of polypropylene, polypropylene/polyethylene copolymers,copolymers of ethylene and higher olefins such aspolyethylene/polyoctene copolymers, copolymers thereof including one ormore additional polymers, and blends thereof.

Feature 48. The sole structure according to any one of Features 1-105,wherein the chassis comprises a polyolefin.

Feature 49. The sole structure according to any one of Features 1-105,wherein the chassis comprises a resin composition according to any oneof Features 130-194.

Feature 50. The sole structure according to any one of Features 1-105,wherein the chassis comprises a second resin that is different from thepolyolefin resin.

Feature 51. The sole structure according to any one of Features 1-105,wherein the second resin comprises a polystyrene, a polyethylene, anethylene-α-olefin copolymer, an ethylene-propylene rubber (EPDM), apolybutene, a polyisobutylene, a poly-4-methylpent-1-ene, apolyisoprene, a polybutadiene, a ethylene-methacrylic acid copolymer, anolefin elastomer, a copolymer thereof, or a blend or mixture thereof.

Feature 52. The sole structure according to any one of Features 1-105,wherein the second resin comprises about 20%, about 10%, or less of apolyolefin.

Feature 53. The sole structure according to any one of Features 1-105,wherein the second resin comprises about 20%, about 10%, or less ofpolypropylene.

Feature 54. The sole structure according to any one of Features 1-105,wherein the second resin comprises an ethylene-propylene rubber (EPDM)dispersed in a polypropylene.

Feature 55. The sole structure according to any one of Features 1-105,wherein the second resin comprises a block copolymer comprising apolystyrene block.

Feature 56. The sole structure according to any one of Features 1-105,wherein the block copolymer comprises a copolymer of styrene and one orboth of ethylene and butylene.

Feature 57. The sole structure according to any one of Features 1-105,wherein the sole structure is configured to extend from a medial side toa lateral side of the article of footwear when the sole structure is thecomponent of the article of footwear.

Feature 58. The sole structure according to any one of Features 1-105,wherein a length of the plate is configured to extend through ametatarsal region to a midfoot region of the article of footwear whenthe sole structure is the component of the article of footwear.

Feature 59 The sole structure according to any one of Features 1-105,wherein a length of the plate is configured to extend through a midfootregion to a heel region of the article of footwear when the solestructure is the component of the article of footwear.

Feature 60. The sole structure according to any one of Features 1-105,wherein a length of the plate is configured to extend from a toe regionto a heel region of the article of footwear when the sole structure isthe component of the article of footwear.

Feature 61. The sole structure according to any one of Features 1-105,wherein the first side of the plate includes traction elements.

Feature 62. The sole structure according to any one of Features 1-105,wherein the traction elements are integrally formed in the plate.

Feature 63. The sole structure according to any one of Features 1-105,wherein the traction elements include the injection molded resincomposition.

Feature 64. The sole structure according to any one of Features 1-105,wherein the chassis includes traction elements on a side of the chassisthat is configured to be ground facing when the sole structure is acomponent of an article of footwear.

Feature 65. The sole structure according to any one of Features 1-105,wherein the traction elements are integrally formed in the chassis.

Feature 66. The sole structure according to any one of Features 1-105,wherein the chassis includes one or more openings configured to receivea detachable traction element on a side of the chassis that isconfigured to be ground facing when the sole structure is a component ofan article of footwear.

Feature 67. The sole structure according to any one of Features 1-105,wherein the plate comprises a resin composition according to any one ofFeatures 130-194.

Feature 68. The sole structure according to any one of Features 1-105,wherein the plate further comprises a clarifying agent.

Feature 69. The sole structure according to any one of Features 1-105,wherein the clarifying agent is present in an amount from about 0.5% byweight to about 5% by weight or about 1.5% by weight to about 2.5% byweight based upon a total weight of the polyolefin resin.

Feature 70. The sole structure according to any one of Features 1-105,wherein the clarifying agent is selected from the group consisting of asubstituted or unsubstituted dibenzylidene sorbitol,1,3-O-2,4-bis(3,4-dimethylbenzylidene) sorbitol,1,2,3-trideoxy-4,6:5,7-bis-O-[(4-propylphenyl)methylene], and aderivative thereof.

Feature 71. The sole structure according to any one of Features 1-105,wherein the clarifying agent comprises an acetal compound that is thecondensation product of a polyhydric alcohol and an aromatic aldehyde.

Feature 72. The sole structure according to any one of Features 1-105,wherein the polyhydric alcohol is selected from the group consisting ofacyclic polyols such as xylitol and sorbitol and acyclic deoxy polyolssuch as 1,2,3-trideoxynonitol or 1,2,3-trideoxynon-1-enitol.

Feature 73. The sole structure according to any one of Features 1-105,wherein the aromatic aldehyde is selected from the group consisting ofbenzaldehyde and substituted benzaldehydes.

Feature 74. The sole structure according to any one of Features 1-105,wherein the first side of the plate comprises a hydrogel material.

Feature 75. The sole structure according to any one of Features 1-105,wherein the hydrogel material comprises a polyurethane hydrogel.

Feature 76. The sole structure according to any one of Features 1-105,wherein the polyurethane hydrogel is a reaction polymer of adiisocyanate with a polyol.

Feature 77. The sole structure according to any one of Features 1-105,wherein the hydrogel material comprises a polyamide hydrogel.

Feature 78. The sole structure according to any one of Features 1-105,wherein the polyamide hydrogel is a reaction polymer of a condensationof diamino compounds with dicarboxylic acids.

Feature 79. The sole structure according to any one of Features 1-105,wherein the hydrogel material comprises a polyurea hydrogel.

Feature 80. The sole structure according to any one of Features 1-105,wherein the polyurea hydrogel is a reaction polymer of a diisocyanatewith a diamine.

Feature 81. The sole structure according to any one of Features 1-105,wherein the hydrogel material comprises a polyester hydrogel.

Feature 82. The sole structure according to any one of Features 1-105,wherein the polyester hydrogel is a reaction polymer of a dicarboxylicacid with a diol.

Feature 83. The sole structure according to any one of Features 1-105,wherein the hydrogel material comprises a polycarbonate hydrogel.

Feature 84. The sole structure according to any one of Features 1-105,wherein the polycarbonate hydrogel is a reaction polymer of a diol withphosgene or a carbonate diester

Feature 85. The sole structure according to any one of Features 1-105,wherein the hydrogel material comprises a polyetheramide hydrogel.

Feature 86. The sole structure according to any one of Features 1-105,wherein the polyetheramide hydrogel is a reaction polymer ofdicarboxylic acid and polyether diamine.

Feature 87. The sole structure according to any one of Features 1-105,wherein the hydrogel material comprises a hydrogel formed of additionpolymers of ethylenically unsaturated monomers.

Feature 88. The sole structure according to any one of Features 1-105,wherein the hydrogel material comprises a hydrogel formed of acopolymer, wherein the copolymer is a combination of two or more typesof polymers within each polymer chain.

Feature 89. The sole structure according to any one of Features 1-105,wherein the copolymer is selected from the group consisting of: apolyurethane/polyurea copolymer, a polyurethane/polyester copolymer, anda polyester/polycarbonate copolymer.

Feature 90. The sole structure according to any one of Features 1-105,wherein the sole structure comprises the chassis, and wherein thechassis or a side of the chassis that is configured to be ground facingwhen the sole structure is a component of an article of footwearcomprises the hydrogel material.

Feature 91. The sole structure of according any one of Features 1-105,wherein the hydrogel material has a water cycling weight loss from about0 wt. % to about 15 wt. % as measured using the Water Cycling Test withthe Component Sampling Procedure.

Feature 92. The sole structure of according to any one of Features1-105, wherein the hydrogel material has a water cycling weight loss ofless than 15 wt. % as measured using the Water Cycling Test with theComponent Sampling Procedure.

Feature 93. The sole structure of according to any one of Features1-105, wherein the hydrogel material has a water cycling weight loss ofless than 10 wt. %.

Feature 94. The sole structure of according to any one of Features1-105, wherein the hydrogel material has a dry-state thickness in therange of about 0.2 mm to about 2.0 mm.

Feature 95. The sole structure of according to any one of Features1-105, wherein the hydrogel material has a saturated-state thicknessthat is at least 100% greater than the dry-state thickness of thehydrogel material.

Feature 96. The sole structure of according to any one of Features1-105, wherein the saturated-state thickness of the hydrogel material isat least 200% greater than the dry-state thickness of the hydrogelmaterial.

Feature 97. The sole structure of according to any one of Features1-105, wherein the sole structure has a ground facing side, and thehydrogel material is affixed to the ground facing side of the solestructure.

Feature 98. The sole structure of according to any one of Features1-105, wherein the textile is on the ground facing side of the solestructure, and wherein the textile is a knit textile, a woven textile, anon-woven textile, a braided textile, or a combination thereof.

Feature 99. The sole structure of according to any one of Features1-105, wherein the sole structure further includes an adhesive, aprimer, or a tie layer located between the ground facing side and thehydrogel material or elastomeric material.

Feature 100. The sole structure according to any one of Features 1-105,wherein one or more of the adhesive, the primer, and the tie layerinclude a polymer having epoxy segments, urethane segments, acrylicsegments, cyanoacrylate segments, silicone segments, or any combinationthereof.

Feature 101. The sole structure according to any one of Features 1-105,wherein one or more of the polyolefin resin of the plate, the adhesive,the primer, and the tie layer include a polymer having maleic anhydridefunctional groups.

Feature 102. The sole structure according to any one of Features 1-105,wherein one or more of the plate, the adhesive, the primer, and the tielayer include maleic anhydride.

Feature 103. The sole structure according to any one of Features 1-105,wherein the adhesive, the primer or the tie layer includes athermoplastic polyurethane.

Feature 104. The sole structure according to any one of Features 1-105,wherein the ground facing side of the sole structure includes a texture.

Feature 105. The sole structure according to any one of Features 1-105,wherein the ground facing side of the sole structure formed by thehydrogel material has a mud pull-off force that is less than about 12Newton as determined by the Mud Pull-Off Test using the ComponentSampling Procedure.

Feature 106. An article of footwear comprising an upper and a solestructure according to any one of Features 1-105.

Feature 107. The article of footwear according to any one of Features106-110, wherein the article includes a mechanical bond between theplate and the upper.

Feature 108. The article of footwear according to any one of Features106-110, wherein the article includes an adhesive bond between thesurface comprising the textile and the upper.

Feature 109. The article of footwear according to any one of Features106-110, further comprising a bond between the chassis and the upper.

Feature 110. The article of footwear according to any one of Features106-110, wherein one or more of the resin composition of the plate, theresin composition of the chassis, and a polymeric material of the upperare melded together.

Feature 111. A method of manufacturing a component for an article offootwear or athletic equipment, the method comprising disposing atextile onto a surface of a polyolefin resin composition.

Feature 112. The method according to any one of Features 111-118,comprising injection molding the resin composition onto the textile.

Feature 113. The method according to any one of Features 111-118,comprising one or more of laminating the textile onto a surface of theresin composition, welding the textile onto a surface of the resincomposition, and bonding to a surface of the resin composition using anadhesive.

Feature 114. The method according to any one of Features 111-118,wherein the textile is selected from the group consisting of a woventextile, a non-woven textile, a knit textile, a braided textile, and acombination thereof.

Feature 115. The method according to any one of Features 111-118,wherein the textile comprises one or more fibers comprising a polymerselected from the group consisting of a polyester, a polyamide, apolyolefin, a blend thereof, and a combination thereof.

Feature 116. The method according to any one of Features 111-118,wherein the textile comprises a yarn comprising the fibers.

Feature 117. The method according to any one of Features 111-118,wherein a surface roughness of the surface comprising the textile isgreater than a surface roughness of the otherwise same surface exceptwithout the textile.

Feature 118. The method according to any one of Features 111-118,wherein the resin composition comprises a resin composition according toany one of Features 130-194.

Feature 119. A method of manufacturing a sole structure, the methodcomprising disposing a textile onto a surface of a plate, wherein theplate comprises a polyolefin resin composition.

Feature 120. The method according to any one of Features 119-129,comprising injection molding the plate onto the textile.

Feature 121. The method according to any one of Features 119-129,comprising one or more of laminating the textile onto a surface of theplate, welding the textile onto a surface of the plate, and bonding to asurface of the plate using an adhesive.

Feature 122. The method according to any one of Features 119-129,wherein the textile is selected from the group consisting of a woventextile, a non-woven textile, a knit textile, a braided textile, and acombination thereof.

Feature 123. The method according to any one of Features 119-129,wherein the textile comprises one or more fibers comprising a polymerselected from the group consisting of a polyester, a polyamide, apolyolefin, a blend thereof, and a combination thereof.

Feature 124. The method according to any one of Features 119-129,wherein the textile comprises a yarn comprising the fibers.

Feature 125. The method according to any one of Features 119-129,wherein a surface roughness of the surface comprising the textile isgreater than a surface roughness of the otherwise same surface exceptwithout the textile.

Feature 126. The method according to any one of Features 119-129,wherein the resin composition comprises a resin composition according toany one of Features 130-194.

Feature 127. The method according to any one of Features 119-129,further comprising disposing the plate in a chassis configured to be ona ground facing side of the plate when the sole structure is a componentof an article of footwear.

Feature 128. The method according to any one of Features 119-129,further comprising injection molding the plate into a chassis configuredto be on a ground facing side of the plate when the sole structure is acomponent of an article of footwear.

Feature 129. The method according to any one of Features 119-129,wherein the chassis is injection molded prior to injection molding theplate.

Feature 130. A resin composition comprising: a polyolefin copolymer, andan effective amount of a polymeric resin modifier.

Feature 131. The resin composition according to any one of Features130-194, wherein the resin composition has an abrasion loss of about0.05 cubic centimeters to about 0.1 cubic centimeters or about 0.08cubic centimeters to about 0.1 cubic centimeters pursuant to ASTM D5963-97a using the Material Sampling Procedure.

Feature 132. The resin composition according to any one of Features130-194, wherein the effective amount of the polymeric resin modifier isan amount effective to allow the resin composition to pass a flex testpursuant to the Cold Ross Flex Test using the Plaque Sampling Procedure.

Feature 133. The resin composition according to any one of Features130-194, wherein the effective amount of the polymeric resin modifier isan amount effective to allow the resin composition to pass a flex testpursuant to the Cold Ross Flex Test using the Plaque Sampling Procedurewithout a significant change in an abrasion loss as compared to anabrasion loss of a second resin composition identical to the resincomposition except without the polymeric resin modifier when measuredpursuant to ASTM D 5963-97a using the Material Sampling Procedure.

Feature 134. The resin composition according to any one of Features130-194, wherein the abrasion loss of the resin composition is about0.08 cubic centimeters to about 0.1 cubic centimeters.

Feature 135. The resin composition according to any one of Features130-194, wherein the polyolefin copolymer is a random copolymer.

Feature 136. The resin composition according to any one of Features130-194, wherein the polyolefin copolymer comprises a plurality ofrepeat units, with each of the plurality of repeat units individuallyderived from an alkene monomer having about 1 to about 6 carbon atoms.

Feature 137. The resin composition according to any one of Features130-194, wherein the polyolefin copolymer comprises a plurality ofrepeat units, with each of the plurality of repeat units individuallyderived from a monomer selected from the group consisting of ethylene,propylene, 4-methyl-1-pentene, 1-butene, and a combination thereof.

Feature 138. The resin composition according to any one of Features130-194, wherein the polyolefin copolymer comprises a plurality ofrepeat units each individually selected from Formula 1A-1D

Feature 139. The resin composition according to any one of Features130-194, wherein the polyolefin copolymer comprises a plurality ofrepeat units each individually having a structure according to Formula 2

where R¹ is a hydrogen or a substituted or unsubstituted, linear orbranched, C₁-C₁₂ alkyl or heteroalkyl.

Feature 140. The resin composition according to any one of Features130-194, wherein polymers in the resin composition consist essentiallyof polyolefin copolymers.

Feature 141. The resin composition according to any one of Features130-194, wherein the polyolefin copolymer is a random copolymer of afirst plurality of repeat units and a second plurality of repeat units,and wherein each repeat unit in the first plurality of repeat units isderived from ethylene and the each repeat unit in the second pluralityof repeat units is derived from a second olefin.

Feature 142. The resin composition according to any one of Features130-194, wherein the second olefin is selected from the group consistingof propylene, 4-methyl-1-pentene, 1-butene, and other linear or branchedterminal alkenes having about 3 to 12 carbon atoms.

Feature 143. The resin composition according to any one of Features130-194, wherein each of the repeat units in the first plurality ofrepeat units has a structure according to Formula 1A, and wherein eachof the repeat units in the second plurality of repeat units has astructure selected from Formula 1B-1D

Feature 144. The resin composition according to any one of Features130-194, wherein each of the repeat units in the first plurality ofrepeat units has a structure according to Formula 1A, and wherein eachof the repeat units in the second plurality of repeat units has astructure according to Formula 2

where R¹ is a hydrogen or a substituted or unsubstituted, linear orbranched, C₂-C₁₂ alkyl or heteroalkyl.

Feature 145. The resin composition according to any one of Features130-194, wherein the polyolefin copolymer comprises about 80% to about99%, about 85% to about 99%, about 90% to about 99%, or about 95% toabout 99% polyolefin repeat units by weight based upon a total weight ofthe polyolefin copolymer.

Feature 146. The resin composition according to any one of Features130-194, wherein the polyolefin copolymer comprises about 1% to about5%, about 1% to about 3%, about 2% to about 3%, or about 2% to about 5%ethylene by weight based upon a total weight of the polyolefincopolymer.

Feature 147. The resin composition according to any one of Features130-194, wherein the polyolefin copolymer is substantially free ofpolyurethanes.

Feature 148. The resin composition according to any one of Features130-194, wherein polymer chains of the polyolefin copolymer aresubstantially free of urethane repeat units.

Feature 149. The resin composition according to any one of Features130-194, wherein the resin composition is substantially free of polymerchains including urethane repeat units.

Feature 150. The resin composition according to any one of Features130-194, wherein the polyolefin copolymer is substantially free ofpolyamide.

Feature 151. The resin composition according to any one of Features130-194, wherein polymer chains of the polyolefin copolymer aresubstantially free of amide repeat units.

Feature 152. The resin composition according to any one of Features130-194, wherein the resin composition is substantially free of polymerchains including amide repeat units.

Feature 153. A resin composition comprising: a polypropylene copolymer,and an effective amount of a polymeric resin modifier.

Feature 154. The resin composition according to any one of Features130-194, wherein the resin composition has an abrasion loss of a about0.05 cubic centimeters (cm³) to about 0.1 cubic centimeters (cm³), about0.07 cubic centimeters (cm³) to about 0.1 cubic centimeters (cm³), about0.08 cubic centimeters (cm³) to about 0.1 cubic centimeters (cm³), orabout 0.08 cubic centimeters (cm³) to about 0.11 cubic centimeters (cm³)pursuant to ASTM D 5963-97a using the Material Sampling Procedure.

Feature 155. The resin composition according to any one of Features130-194, wherein the effective amount of the polymeric resin modifier isan amount effective to allow the resin composition to pass a flex testpursuant to the Cold Ross Flex Test using the Plaque Sampling Procedure.

Feature 156. A resin composition comprising: a polypropylene copolymer,and an effective amount of a polymeric resin modifier.

Feature 157. The resin composition according to any one of Features130-194, wherein the effective amount of the polymeric resin modifier isan amount effective to allow the resin composition to pass a flex testpursuant to the Cold Ross Flex Test using the Plaque Sampling Procedurewithout a significant change in an abrasion loss as compared to anabrasion loss of a second resin composition identical to the resincomposition except without the polymeric resin modifier when measuredpursuant to ASTM D 5963-97a using the Material Sampling Procedure.

Feature 158. The resin composition according to any one of Features130-194, wherein the abrasion loss of the resin composition is about0.05 cubic centimeters (cm³) to about 0.1 cubic centimeters (cm³), about0.07 cubic centimeters (cm³) to about 0.1 cubic centimeters (cm³), about0.08 cubic centimeters (cm³) to about 0.1 cubic centimeters (cm³), orabout 0.08 cubic centimeters (cm³) to about 0.11 cubic centimeters(cm³).

Feature 159. The resin composition according to any one of Features130-194, wherein the polypropylene copolymer is a random copolymer.

Feature 160. The resin composition according to any one of Features130-194, wherein the polypropylene copolymer comprises about 80% toabout 99%, about 85% to about 99%, about 90% to about 99%, or about 95%to about 99% polypropylene repeat units by weight based upon a totalweight of the polypropylene copolymer.

Feature 161. The resin composition according to any one of Features130-194, wherein the polypropylene copolymer comprises about 1% to about5%, about 1% to about 3%, about 2% to about 3%, or about 2% to about 5%ethylene by weight based upon a total weight of the polypropylenecopolymer.

Feature 162. The resin composition according to any one of Features130-194, wherein the polypropylene copolymer is a random copolymercomprising about 2% to about 3% of a first plurality of repeat units byweight and about 80% to about 99% by weight of a second plurality ofrepeat units based upon a total weight of the polypropylene copolymer;wherein each of the repeat units in the first plurality of repeat unitshas a structure according to Formula 1A and each of the repeat units inthe second plurality of repeat units has a structure according toFormula 1B

Feature 163. The resin composition according to any one of Features130-194, wherein the polypropylene copolymer is substantially free ofpolyurethane.

Feature 164. The resin composition according to any one of Features130-194, wherein polymer chains of the polypropylene copolymer aresubstantially free of urethane repeat units.

Feature 165. The resin composition according to any one of Features130-194, wherein the resin composition is substantially free of polymerchains including urethane repeat units.

Feature 166. The resin composition according to any one of Features130-194, wherein the polypropylene copolymer is substantially free ofpolyamide.

Feature 167. The resin composition according to any one of Features130-194, wherein polymer chains of the polypropylene copolymer aresubstantially free of amide repeat units.

Feature 168. The resin composition according to any one of Features130-194, wherein the resin composition is substantially free of polymerchains including amide repeat units.

Feature 169. The resin composition according to any one of Features130-194, wherein polymers in the resin composition consist essentiallyof propylene repeat units.

Feature 170. The resin composition according to any one of Features130-194, wherein the resin composition consists essentially ofpolypropylene copolymers.

Feature 171. The resin composition according to any one of Features130-194, wherein the polypropylene copolymer is a random copolymer ofethylene and propylene.

Feature 172. The resin composition according to any one of Features130-194, wherein the abrasion loss of the resin composition is withinabout 20% of an abrasion loss of the otherwise same resin compositionexcept without the resin modifier when measured pursuant to ASTM D5963-97a using the Material Sampling Procedure.

Feature 173. The resin composition according to any one of Features130-194, wherein the resin composition has a % crystallization of about35%, about 30%, about 25%, or less when measured according to theDifferential Scanning Calorimeter (DSC) Test using the Material SamplingProcedure.

Feature 174. The resin composition according to any one of Features130-194, wherein the resin composition has a % crystallization that isat least 4 percentage points less than a % crystallization of theotherwise same resin composition except without the polymeric resinmodifier when measured according to the DSC Test using the MaterialSampling Procedure.

Feature 175. The resin composition according to any one of Features130-194, wherein the effective amount of the polymeric resin modifier isabout 5% to about 30%, about 5% to about 25%, about 5% to about 20%,about 5% to about 15%, about 5% to about 10%, about 10% to about 15%,about 10% to about 20%, about 10% to about 25%, or about 10% to about30% by weight based upon a total weight of the resin composition.

Feature 176. The resin composition according to any one of Features130-194, wherein the effective amount of the polymeric resin modifier isabout 20%, about 15%, about 10%, about 5%, by weight, or less based upona total weight of the resin composition.

Feature 177. The resin composition according to any one of Features130-194, wherein the polymeric resin modifier comprises about 10% toabout 15% ethylene repeat units by weight based upon a total weight ofthe polymeric resin modifier.

Feature 178. The resin composition according to any one of Features130-194, wherein the polymeric resin modifier comprises about 10% toabout 15% repeat units according to Formula 1A by weight based upon atotal weight of the polymeric resin modifier

Feature 179. The resin composition according to any one of Features130-194, wherein the resin composition has a total ethylene repeat unitcontent of about 3% to about 7% by weight based upon a total weight ofthe resin composition.

Feature 180. The resin composition according to any one of Features130-194, wherein the polymeric resin modifier has an ethylene repeatunit content of about 10% to about 15% by weight based upon a totalweight of the polymeric resin modifier.

Feature 181. The resin composition according to any one of Features130-194, wherein the polymeric resin modifier is a copolymer comprisingisotactic repeat units derived from an olefin.

Feature 182. The resin composition according to any one of Features130-194, wherein the polymeric resin modifier is a copolymer comprisingrepeat units according to Formula 1B, and wherein the repeat unitsaccording to Formula 1B are arranged in an isotactic stereochemicalconfiguration

Feature 183. The resin composition according to any one of Features130-194, wherein an otherwise same resin composition except without thepolymeric resin modifier does not pass the cold Ross flex test using theMaterial Sampling Procedure.

Feature 184. The resin composition according to any one of Features130-194, wherein the polymeric resin modifier is a copolymer comprisingisotactic propylene repeat units and ethylene repeat units.

Feature 185. The resin composition according to any one of Features130-194, wherein the polymeric resin modifier is a copolymer comprisinga first plurality of repeat units and a second plurality of repeatunits; wherein each of the repeat units in the first plurality of repeatunits has a structure according to Formula 1A and each of the repeatunits in the second plurality of repeat units has a structure accordingto Formula 1B, and wherein the repeat units in the second plurality ofrepeat units are arranged in an isotactic stereochemical configuration

Feature 186. The resin composition according to any one of Features130-194, wherein the polymeric resin modifier is a metallocene catalyzedpolymer.

Feature 187. The resin composition according to any one of Features130-194, wherein the polymeric resin modifier is a metallocene catalyzedcopolymer.

Feature 188. The resin composition according to any one of Features130-194, wherein the polymeric resin modifier is a metallocene catalyzedpropylene copolymer.

Feature 189. The resin composition according to any one of Features130-194, wherein the plate further comprises a clarifying agent.

Feature 190. The resin composition according to any one of Features130-194, wherein the clarifying agent is present in an amount from about0.5% by weight to about 5% by weight or about 1.5% by weight to about2.5% by weight based upon a total weight of the polyolefin resin.

Feature 191. The resin composition according to any one of Features130-194, wherein the clarifying agent is selected from the groupconsisting of a substituted or unsubstituted dibenzylidene sorbitol,1,3-O-2,4-bis(3,4-dimethylbenzylidene) sorbitol,1,2,3-trideoxy-4,6:5,7-bis-O-[(4-propylphenyl)methylene], and aderivative thereof.

Feature 192. The resin composition according to any one of Features130-194, wherein the clarifying agent comprises an acetal compound thatis the condensation product of a polyhydric alcohol and an aromaticaldehyde.

Feature 193. The resin composition according to any one of Features130-194, wherein the polyhydric alcohol is selected from the groupconsisting of acyclic polyols such as xylitol and sorbitol and acyclicdeoxy polyols such as 1,2,3-trideoxynonitol or1,2,3-trideoxynon-1-enitol.

Feature 194. The resin composition according to any one of Features130-194, wherein the aromatic aldehyde is selected from the groupconsisting of benzaldehyde and substituted benzaldehydes.

We claim:
 1. A resin composition comprising: a polyolefin copolymer, aneffective amount of a polymeric resin modifier, and a clarifying agent.2. The resin composition according to claim 1, wherein the effectiveamount of the polymeric resin modifier is an amount effective to allowthe resin composition to pass a flex test pursuant to the Cold Ross FlexTest using the Plaque Sampling Procedure.
 3. The resin compositionaccording to claim 1, wherein the effective amount of the polymericresin modifier is an amount effective to allow the resin composition topass a flex test pursuant to the Cold Ross Flex Test using the PlaqueSampling Procedure without a significant change in an abrasion loss ascompared to an abrasion loss of a second resin composition identical tothe resin composition except without the polymeric resin modifier whenmeasured pursuant to ASTM D 5963-97a using the Material SamplingProcedure.
 4. The resin composition according to claim 1, wherein theeffective amount of the polymeric resin modifier is about 10% by weightor less based upon a total weight of the resin composition.
 5. The resincomposition according to claim 1, wherein the polymeric resin modifiercomprises about 10% to about 15% ethylene repeat units by weight basedupon a total weight of the polymeric resin modifier.
 6. The resincomposition according to claim 1, wherein the polymeric resin modifiercomprises about 10% to about 15% repeat units according to Formula 1A byweight based upon a total weight of the polymeric resin modifier


7. The resin composition according to claim 1, wherein the clarifyingagent is present in an amount from about 1.5% by weight to about 2.5% byweight based upon a total weight of the polyolefin resin.
 8. The resincomposition according to claim 1, wherein the clarifying agent isselected from the group consisting of a substituted or unsubstituteddibenzylidene sorbitol, 1,3-O-2,4-bis(3,4-dimethylbenzylidene) sorbitol,1,2,3-trideoxy-4,6:5,7-bis-O-[(4-propylphenyl)methylene], and aderivative thereof.
 9. The resin composition according to claim 1,wherein the clarifying agent comprises an acetal compound that is thecondensation product of a polyhydric alcohol and an aromatic aldehyde.11. The resin composition according to claim 1, wherein the polyolefincopolymer is a random copolymer.
 12. The resin composition according toclaim 1, wherein the polyolefin copolymer comprises a plurality ofrepeat units, with each of the plurality of repeat units individuallyderived from an alkene monomer having about 1 to about 6 carbon atoms.13. The resin composition according to claim 1, wherein the polyolefincopolymer comprises a plurality of repeat units, with each of theplurality of repeat units individually derived from a monomer selectedfrom the group consisting of ethylene, propylene, 4-methyl-1-pentene,1-butene, and a combination thereof.
 14. The resin composition accordingto claim 1, wherein the polyolefin copolymer comprises a plurality ofrepeat units each individually selected from Formula 1A-1D


15. The resin composition according to claim 1, wherein the polyolefincopolymer comprises a plurality of repeat units each individually havinga structure according to Formula 2

where R¹ is a hydrogen or a substituted or unsubstituted, linear orbranched, C₁-C₁₂ alkyl or heteroalkyl.
 16. The resin compositionaccording to claim 1, wherein polymers in the resin composition consistessentially of polyolefin copolymers.
 17. A sole structure for anarticle of footwear, the sole structure comprising: a plate comprising aresin composition according to claim 1, the plate having a first sideand a second side, wherein the first side is configured to beground-facing when the plate is a component of an article of footwear.18. The sole structure according to claim 17, further comprising atextile disposed on one or both of the first side and the second side.19. A method of manufacturing an article of footwear, the methodcomprising disposing a textile onto a plate comprising a resincomposition according to claim 1, wherein the disposing comprisesinjection molding the plate onto the textile, laminating the textileonto the plate, welding the textile onto the plate, and/or bonding tothe plate using an adhesive.
 20. An article of footwear manufacturedaccording to the method of claim 19.